Reflection: Comparison of Two Fireside Poets

The Fireside poets, named after their tendency to read their poems in a small group around a fire, are some of the most recognizable poets in the Romanticism period. I chose Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Aftermath” and Oliver Wendell Holmes’s “The Height of Ridiculous” to research. There was no true reasoning for why I chose these two poets or poems to compare and contrast except for the fact that I like the name Longfellow and a poem including the word ‘ridiculous’ in its title is very intriguing. “Aftermath” was a beautifully rhythmic poem that grasped the changing of seasons. Longfellow sums up each season in a one line. For example, he describes the mowing of fields and birds traveling at the end of spring and summer (Longfellow). Then, he mentions the falling, golden leaves and snow for the following seasons (Longfellow). After giving brief details of each season, Longfellow claims that it’s time for an aftermath. Now that spring is back again, the year deserves a review and a plan for moving forward. He says, “Once again the fields we mow and gather in the aftermath” (Longfellow). As commonly done in Romanticism pieces, Longfellow focused on nature and the seasons. The outdoors proved to be a huge inspiration for writers at this time, so they discussed it very often in their work. “Aftermath” also follows the journey of the changing seasons. Although short, his poem tells a story that takes place in about three hundred and sixty-five days. A story of travel and change is also popular in the Romanticism period. Longfellow uses both alliteration and personification in his poem. The first was given in line twelve when he writes, “Tangled tufts from marsh and meads” (Longfellow). Personification was given to the poppy, a flower, when it “drops its seeds”. Flowers don’t have hands, so they can’t literally drop something. Instead, Longfellow is giving the flower human like traits. Holmes’s “The Height of Ridiculous” was very different compared to “Aftermath”. The protagonist that is writing the poem, which the reader would easily assume to be Holmes, is pretty vain (Holmes). He goes on and on about his great poem and how funny it is. After having his servant read the poem, the narrator realizes it was really worth the praise (Holmes). One of the only Romanticism characteristics that I found in the poem was the emotion and feelings involved in the story. During this time, authors valued feelings in their writings as much as they did imagination. “The Height of Ridiculous” shares a great amount of humor and feelings, and it gives a good hearted message. In the end, the narrator learns that his humor is greater than can be controlled. One critic says, “The poem ends with the lesson the speaker takes from the adventure” (The Height).

One criticism takes a guess at the meaning behind Longfellow’s title of “Aftermath.” He says, “The word "aftermath" is most often used in reference to the events following a tragedy, and this poem may be a testament to how, many years later, a few tragic incidents irredeemably darken the speaker's perception of his entire life” (Huff).


 Holmes, Oliver Wendell. “The Height of Ridiculous.” An American Anthology, 1787–1900. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1900; Bartleby.com, 2001.

Huff, Randall. "Aftermath." The Facts On File Companion to American Poetry, vol. 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Huff, Randall. "'The Height of the Ridiculous'." The Facts On File Companion to American Poetry, vol. 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. "Aftermath by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow." PoemHunter.Com - Thousands of Poems and Poets.. Poetry Search Engine. Web. 14 Dec. 2011.

Journal #20- Longfellow's Autumn

After reading this poem over three times, and yes, once allowed, I have come to have a good idea of what the sonnet is about. Now that step one of the poetry explication rules is complete, we can move onto step two: the literal meaning of the poem. Sometimes, I have a hard time figuring out what the literal meanings and the symbolic meanings are of poem, but “Autumn” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow proved to be pretty simple. The poem depicts autumn by describing the weather, the scenery, and the sounds of the season. One could easily assume that the poem is set in the country because it mentions a farmer, along with oxen and the vast land. As I was reading through the third time, I was looking for the poetic devices that Longfellow used in the sonnet. I found an example of imagery in line five when he describes “the red harvest moon” and how it shields the vast fields (Longfellow). In line twelve, the poet uses the term ‘like’ to compare two items, which classifies the phrase as a simile. The line reads, “Like flames upon an altar shine the sheaves” (Longfellow). As to why this poem was written, it’s hard to say. I would claim it’s because Henry Wadsworth Longfellow enjoys the month of autumn. I would imagine that if a person had the choice to write about whatever they wanted to write about, they would choose something that they loved, were inspired by, and found beauty in. Judging by the sonnet, I would say all of these points are reasons for the topic. The way Longfellow describes the golden leaves with the rest of the beautiful scenery makes readers picture what he’s saying. In return, they enjoy the scene themselves. I also see the farmer and his land as being major parts in the storyline. He mentions the farmer’s prayers, which are most likely a result of the non growing fields because of the moon blocking them. In just a few lines, Longfellow creates a deep and emotional story that has a hanging end for the reader to finish for themselves.

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. The Complete Poetical Works, ed. by Horace E. Scudder. Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1893; Bartleby.com, 2011.

Reflection- The Chambered Nautilus

Oliver Wendell Holmes’s “The Chambered Nautilus” has several symbolic meanings. For instance, the poem is about a ship’s journey gone wrong, but it also incorporates a nautilus, an ocean squid, in the description.  The poem tells of a ship that is sailing, but becomes wrecked along its journey. The broken ship is open and bare for all to see. As every journey must continue, the ship is left and a new path is built. In his poem, Holmes uses a number of poetic techniques and devices to add detail and figurative language to his writing. In line five, Holmes mentions a ‘singing siren’ (Holmes). This is a form of allusion because a siren is a reference to Greek Mythology. Another example of allusion in the poem is in line twenty-six. Holmes refers to Triton who “blew from wreathed horn” (Holmes). Triton is also a Greek Mythology figure. He was known for being a messenger, which modifies the poem nicely since it is about a ship wrecked at sea. The poem “The Chambered Nautilus” follows many themes that the Romanticism period is known for. The imagination and nature scenes are two of the most common traits of Romanticism, and they are both often portrayed in “The Chambered Nautilus”. Line eleven reads, “Where its dim dreaming life was wont to dwell” (Holmes). This line shares a great amount of imagination into the poem while describing the ship’s journey. Another common characteristic in Romanticism writings is the portrayal of innocence and youth, both of which are discussed in this poem. Holmes writes, “Thanks for the heavenly message brought by thee child of the wandering sea. Cast from her lap, forlorn!” (Holmes). The Romanticism period preferred to focus on innocence in purity rather than educated or knowledge. This is most likely because the time period was very much against the ideas of the Age of Reason. Youth is also a recognizable symbol for purity and imagination, which are other common characteristics for the Romanticism period. “The Chambered Nautilus” also describes the beautiful scenery by saying, “The venturous bark that flings on the sweet summer wind its purpled wings” (Holmes). With adjectives like enchanting and shining, the poem is sending a message of beauty. The journey in the story is also building up to the end where foundation is laid, and a house is built. One could easily categorize this as a spiritual journey for the narrator of the poem. Finally, the allusions that were previously discussed are simple examples of the inspiration behind the poem. Authors of the Romanticism period often found inspiration through legend and mythology. It’s safe to say that “The Chambered Nautilus” hit on almost every characteristic of Romanticism writing. In most cases, a reader can take a poem and somehow relate it to their own life. In one critique, Holmes says, “Following the usual pattern of 19th-century American nature poetry, he announces what he has learned from observing this aspect of nature that will better help him conduct his own life” (Holmes Facts).

Holmes, Oliver Wendell. “The Chambered Nautilus”.English Poetry III: From Tennyson to Whitman. Vol. XLII. The Harvard Classics. New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1909–14; Bartleby.com, 2001.

Holmes, Oliver Wendell. "The Chambered Nautilus." The Facts On File Companion to American Poetry, vol. 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Reflection: Comparing Washington Irving's Work

From characters to story line, Washington Irving’s writings have many similar ideas. Both “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Devil and Tom Walker” share the feelings and landscapes that are reflected in Romanticism writing. One very noticeable similarity is through the characters in both stories. The protagonist is a simple, good natured man who is married to a fiery, abusive woman. The domestic life described in each story is anything but tranquil (Irving 242). In a critique for “Rip Van Winkle”, a Facts on File Companion brings up an excellent question, “Is Dame Van Winkle the henpecking wife as portrayed by Rip and Crayon? Or is she, as are so many women in literature, the product of a male perspective?” (Irving "Rip") The women in both stories are portrayed very poorly, yet the issues with both Rip and Tom aren’t so closely highlighted. Rip Van Winkle was a nice man, but he failed to be there for his farm and his own family (Werlock).  Irving writes, “Rip was ready to attend to anybody’s business but his own; but as to doing family duty, and keeping his farm in order, it was impossible” (Werlock). A fight between the couples is the beginning to the journeys that take place in each of Irving’s stories. In “The Devil and Tom Walker”, a fight between Tom and his wife over a newfound treasure causes Mrs. Walker to walk out on her husband. Tom proceeds to make a deal with the devil and take the treasure. The narrator says, “One would think that to meet with such a singular personage, in this wild, lonely place, would have shaken any man’s nerves, but Tom was a hard-minded fellow, not easily daunted, and he had lived so long with a termagant wife that he did not even fear the devil” (Irving 244-245). “The Devil and Tom Walker” follows Tom as a good hearted man as he changes into a selfish and hollow man. Near the end of the story, a friend asks Tom, a wealthy man by now, for some help economically, and Tom tells him, “Charity begins at home. I must take care of myself in these hard times” (Irving 249).  A journey, whether through time of the outdoors, is common in Romanticism literature. In “Rip Van Winkle”, a similar, but much longer, journey takes place. Rip leaves his house for a walk in the forest after a fight with his wife. He falls asleep for what turns out to be twenty years, and Rip returns home after two decades (Werlock). The details and imagination used in “Rip Van Winkle” is easily categorized as Romanticism characteristics.

The Facts on File Companion not only honors Irving’s writing, but he also claims that “Rip Van Winkle” was of major importance to early America. He says, “With its publication, Irving not only created the modern short story form but also laid the foundations for American literature, particularly the frontier humor that flowered in the 1830s and eventually reached a crescendo with Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn” (Werlock).

Irving, Washington. “The Devil and Tom Walker." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 242-250. Print.

Irving, Washington. "Rip Van Winkle." The Short-Story: Specimens Illustrating Its Development. New York: American Book Company, 1907; Bartleby.com, 2000.

Werlock, Abby H. P. "'Rip Van Winkle'." 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.

Reflection: Tuckerman Critique of Franklin

Although many believe that Benjamin Franklin’s thirteen virtues were just a test to accomplish, they stood for much more. Franklin believed that following all thirteen virtues would result in a happy and healthy life. The virtues did take a lot of focus and hard work to accomplish, but they were worth so much more than a trophy or plaque. Living the thirteen virtues showed determination and a better life.

Benjamin Franklin knew that it would be impossible to create the thirteen virtues, and then attempt to live all thirteen on his first day. Instead he started with one, Temperance, and added another each week. By the thirteenth week, Franklin was living every virtue. This was a smart form of propaganda because it allowed Franklin to focus on one at a time and layer them at appropriate times. He compares his technique to that of a gardener, “And like him, who, having a garden to weed does not attempt to eradicate all the bad herbs at once, which would exceed his reach and his strength, but works on one of the beds at a time, and, having accomplished the first, proceeds to a second” (Franklin 154).

Franklin used charts and schedules to keep track of his work (Franklin 152). Judging by these charts, Benjamin struggled with the virtues of order and silence the most. However, by the thirteenth week, Franklin was able to live every virtue with any mistakes. Because every virtue covers an important topic and/or polite manner, Benjamin Franklin would have truly become a better person throughout the experiment.

Henry T. Tuckerman, a critic of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, agrees that Franklin showed a lot of achievement during the journey through the virtues. Tuckerman’s critique of Franklin’s autobiography had very few, if any, negatives to it. He admires Benjamin Franklin’s fine political works and his patriotism towards the colonies. Tuckerman also honor the industrious side of Benjamin Franklin claiming, “He was indisputably one of the greatest benefactors of mankind” (Bloom). In the following, Tuckerman views Franklin as some sort of holiness.

The grand simplicity of his theory, the familiar apparatus by which it was tested, the accuracy of his foresight, and the unpretending spirit with which he received the fame incident to so great a result, form together one of those memorable instances of the conquest of mind over matter, of human intelligence over the secret facts of nature, which add the cognizance of new laws to the domain of knowledge, and brighter names to the catalogue of her immortal disciples.

There is no doubt that Benjamin Franklin had a fan in Henry T. Tuckerman.

By following the thirteen virtues, Benjamin Franklin lived a better life for himself. For others, the achievement that was the thirteen virtues showed Franklin’s determination and work ethic. Most ordinary people would never be able to survive the thirteen virtues for a week, let alone a lifetime. One could agree with Henry T. Tuckerman when he says that all thirteen virtues were accomplished because of the time and effort that Benjamin Franklin showed (Bloom).

Bloom, Harold, ed. "The Character of Franklin." Benjamin Franklin, Classic Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Henry Altemus, 1895. Print.

Reflection: William Cullen Bryant

There are several techniques used in William Cullen Bryant’s “Thanatopsis” that classify his writings as Romanticism pieces. The large amount of nature influences in his poem is example number one. Bryant often uses the pronoun ‘her’ to refer back to nature. The open sky, cold ground, bearing sun, and waters are all elements portrayed in the poem (Snodgrass). “Thanatopsis”, which is the study of death and dying, is a topic that is expected to be covered in a Romanticist way. As a dark and edgy topic, Romanticism works can discuss the matter in a detailed and imaginative way, which is exactly what Bryant does in this piece.

William Cullen Bryant embraces the importance of detail often in “Thanatopsis.” He describes nature with religion by saying:

She has a voice of gladness, and a smile
And eloquence of beauty, and she glides
Into his darker musings, with a mild
And healing sympathy, that steals away
Their sharpness, ere he is aware.

Along with the great focus on nature, “Thanatopsis” tells of the inevitability of death in human nature. Bryant tells a story of life and death through nature. After death, the author claims, “Thine individual being, shalt thou go to mix forever with the elements (Snodgrass).” Bryant is referring to the burial that most people with go through after death. The human body will disintegrate and become one with nature. William Cullen Bryant also points out the similarities between all humans. No matter the social class or level of intelligence, all people are given the same right to be buried in our land. He admits:

Thou shalt lie down
With patriarchs of the infant world,—with kings,
The powerful of the earth,—the wise, the good,
Fair forms, and hoary seers of ages past,
All in one mighty sepulchre.

Bryant concludes his poem by clarify his readers that they should live life, and not wait around for death. He sends the audience away with a positive and inspired feeling. Although the poem wasn’t necessarily about the most uplifting topic, William Cullen Bryant is able to discuss death in a descriptive and imaginative manner. By doing this, Bryant kept his readers interested in what he had to say. So much so, that his Romanticism poem, “Thanatopsis”, has been given much praise by readers and higher authorities (Lounsbury). The Encyclopedia of Gothic Literature claims that William Cullen Bryant’s “Thanatopsis” was awarded so much praise “for its maturity and dignity.” It is true; Bryant’s professional approach to discussing death deserved all the praise that it received. His details and comparisons showed great imagination and originality that only he could have envisioned. The criticism made by the encyclopedia also pointed out the importance of the Romanticism period in literature. It states, “The poet contemplated death from an American point of view rather than in the manner of the rhapsodic imaginings of Europe's graveyard poets (Lounsbury).” The Romanticism period is known as the beginning to American Literature. The detailed, imaginative writing style that the authors of this writing period used was the true influence to American styles to come.

Lounsbury, Thomas R., ed. Yale Book of American Verse. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1912; Bartleby.com, 1999.

Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. "'Thanatopsis'." Encyclopedia of Gothic Literature. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Reflection: Fireside Poets vs. Others

Because the colonists were from England, Puritan writings can’t truly be classified as American Literature. The colonists had the same values as they did in England, but now they were living them in a different location. Even during the Rationalistic period, literature was still written in a similar English style. It was the next generation of inspired authors that truly began the American style of literature (Langley). Having lived in America most of their lives, the Romanticism authors discussed the beauty of American land and important figures in detailed writings. Although there are similarities in the writing styles of the three periods, it is the differences that led to finding the true American voice in literature.

The Fireside poets, a group of well-known American writers from the mid-1800s, were among the first to be categorized in the Romanticism period (Fireside 210). Their writings described landscapes and adventures in the most vividly and descriptive of ways. Many of their pieces are considered narrative, which tell stories. William Cullen Bryant, one of the five Fireside poets, was known for giving detailed descriptions of his journeys and adventures (Fireside 210). His descriptions allowed readers to picture the landscape being described with all five of their senses. Because of these points, Romanticism writings can easily be compared to Puritan pieces. Puritans also wrote about their journeys and adventures as colonists in New England. When describing their journeys, Puritan authors used many adjectives and descriptive terms so the reader could picture what they are saying. This technique of detailed writing was useful for both Puritan and Romanticism authors.  Puritan literature was also known for being very religion based, which is where is differs from that of the Romanticism period. Instead of looking to God for everything, people in the Romanticism period found inspiration in nature. They also preserved the accomplishments of every individual instead of giving all their glory to God (Langley). Some Romanticism poetry pieces discuss God and religion, but none comparable to the Puritan writings.

One major similarity between the Rationalism and Romanticism time periods is that people were not afraid to share what they believed in, whether it be through writings or speeches. John Greenleaf Whittier and James Russell Lowell, two of the Fireside poets, strongly disagreed with slavery (Fireside 210). Both men shared their feelings in their writings. During the Rationalism period, well-known figures, such as Benjamin Franklin and Patrick Henry, shared their opinions of the war through their literature. The Rationalism period was known for following Deism, the belief that God gave us the right to use our own reasoning to handle situations (Langley). This allowed for a major industrial growth because people were creating their own items to solve problems. Instead of creating their own tools, the people of the Romanticism period looked to nature to solve their problems. They also trusted their own feelings and intuition when it came to making decisions (Langley). These facts are portrayed through each literature period’s writing style. The Rationalistic style was straight to the point and scientifically based, while the Romanticism writings are imaginative, detailed, and emotion filled.

 Langley, John. "Romanticism 1800-1860." English 332. Pleasant Plains High School, Pleasant Plains, IL. 22 Oct. 2011. Lecture.

"The Fireside Poets." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 210-211. Print.

Journal #18- Autumn

Living in the country, it is easy to be taken back by the beauty of nature. My neighborhood has many road turns and is lined with trees and fields. Autumn takes over the leaves and turns my neighborhood into a yellow, golden field of dreams. It's the only time of year where I actually enjoy taking the garbage out. The minute I walk outside the autumn breeze takes my hair, and the scent of fall takes over my nose. I can't exactly put into detail this scent. It's so amazing, but I can't seem to put to the right adjectives together to describe it. Fall weather is also a favorite of mine. Nice warm weather allows you to wear shorts one day, and then a cool, breezy days calls for jeans the next. The autumn season was considered an Indian Summer this year because of the lasting warm weather conditions we had. Because of this, autumn was my favorite season of 2012.

I took my dog out for a walk one autumn day, and I kept getting caught up in the colors of the trees. This year, Springfield had great, lasting fall colors in the leaves. Distances of gold and red were all over the city. I also got caught up driving to school every day. The journey to Pleasant Plains from my house is full of trees and forest scenery. It definitely made the twenty minute drive more relaxing getting to see all the vibrantly colored leaves. One plant I found near my house had leaves fading from a purple/red to a golden/yellow. It was so gorgeous and interesting to see. One bush containing about six colors, it was amazing to see.

Autumn is also the perfect season for one of my favorite activities: Bonfires! Getting your friends together and warming up by the fire is the best. The taste of burnt marshmallow that melt in your mouth are undescribable, and mixing it with chocolate and graham crackers is even better. The best stories are told at bonfires, and they really make you appreciate the time and place.

Journal #19- Nature & Spirituality

I have found so much of my inspiration from life in the lyrics of music. One of my favorite groups, The Dixie Chicks, includes such relatable messages in their music. The following is one of my favorite choruses of all time from the song, Wide Open Spaces.

 She needs wide open spaces 

Room to make her big mistakes 

She needs new faces 

She knows the high stakes

These lyrics also do a very nice job at describing the importance of nature and spirituality in life. I feel that being raised in the country and around nature has made me who I am. I have developed different values and outlooks compared to someone that has grown up in the city. I have always had that place in nature that I can visit to feel clam and free. Living in the country, where everything is so open and free, has had an effect on who I am. I am open and carefree, not so uptight and crazy. I also find that living in the country makes on a harder worker. I don't know if it's the midwest in general, but I have always felt that I work much harder than those who live on the coastal regions. This will come in handy when I am competing against others for job positions.

The lyrics discuss the need for one's wide open spaces. I would consider this finding one's spirituality. Being alone in a field all by yourself is one of the best ways to find your true self. Being who you really are and being proud of who you are is one of the most important accomplishments in one's life. Spirituality can also have to do with one's beliefs and values. It is important to believe in something because that's a large part of your values.

Journal #17- Nature

During the summer of 2010, I spent most of my days outside. We had a hammock in the middle of a bunch of trees. The branches and leaves created a canopy above the hammock. It felt so amazing to lie on the hammock in the summer sun. Because it was the summer before freshman year, I had several books I was assigned to read for Honors English class. I would lie on the hammock and read the novels. Hours would fly by, and I wouldn't even realize it because I was so into the stories I was reading. It felt good to know that I was spending my days outside instead of inside being lazy inside.

I have always liked to think of myself as an outdoorsy person. A trip to Calgary, Alberta in Canada two years ago taught me otherwise, however. I was not prepared for the amount of 'outdoorysyness' that was headed my way. We spent every day of that 10 day trip outside. We hiked, canoed, kayacked, hang glided, climbed a waterfall, and even walked across an iceburg. I quickly realized that I was underqualified to use the word 'outdoorsy' before visiting Canada, especially when it came to describing me. Although I didn't always enjoy every minute spent outside during that trip, I came to really appreciate the scenery. The trip also made me thankful for living in Springfield, Illinois. I believe a place like Springfield makes one appreciate other geographies so much more. We don't have mountains or beaches, so when we visit places that do, we find it so much more magical. A person that lives in California, that sees the beach every day, doesn't see the beauty of the ocean or enjoy it as much as someone who sees it for the first time in years, or even for the first time in their life. It is common for people to make degrading comments towards Springfield, Il, but I see it in a different light. Yea, I get sick of corn fields too, but it just makes be dream about a different scenery even more. When I finally get the chance to see that dream first hand, I enjoy the rarity so much more. However, when I have seen all there is to see, nothing sounds better than coming home to these corn fields.

Journal #16 - Partner Communication

Having to work with group members that are in a different city is going to be difficult. We are going to have to communicate in several ways, and it's not going to be easy. Because we are not working in the same class, let alone building, communication is going to take much longer. It will also be confusing working like this because each roup member is going to have a preferred way of communicating. If they are all different, getting ahold of each other is going to be overwhelming.

Social networking sites is going to be a major form of communication between the group members. Adding each other on Facebook and Twitter will be necessary. We can quickly chat back and forth or message online. Most high school kids have facebook, so sending a message to every group member would be proactive. I also took it upon myself to create a today's meet page.This would be a very simple place to communicate, but if the others don't understand it, I could see where it would be difficult. Plus, getting every group member on the website at the same time would be difficult because we all have english class at different times. Above all else, texting is a major option. Smart phones are so common these days, so texting and email would be so easy to navigate.

I have already seen similarities between the group members and relationships between coworkers. I always hear adults saying, "This one lady in my office, ugh. She never knows what she's doing and is able to get everyone else backed up on their own work." That pretty much sums up what I'm going through. Many of my group members don't know their role in our project, let alone what the project is even about.I can already tell that I'm going to be doing a lot more than I should with this project in order to meet the deadline. Oh, how I love group projects.

Journal #15- Ways to Contribute from a Distance

As of just learning about this project today, I am not to excited about it. I enjoy learning about Benjamin Franklin's thirteen virtues, but I work better as an individual. Having to do a video project with a group of people from a different class, not to mention a different town, is going to be very difficult. Most of the time when people work in groups, one person ends up doing all the work, and in my case, it's usually me doing all of the work. I am going to a large issue if that is the case this time because it's a big video project, and I don't want to be doing that. I just hope I don't get a group of people who intend on not working and relying on me because I am the honors student. In order to make sure that this is not the case, I am going t have to find several ways that I can communicate with the students from other schools in order to be in contact at all times. That way we can keep up on schedule and be able to turn our work in when the deadlines are due. One way I can make sure that this communication is made is through social networks, such as Facebook and twitter. I can add my group members and message them quickly and easily. Communication will be easy to keep up on because I am on Facebook constantly. If a group member doesn't have a Facebook or Twitter, we could always talk back and forth via email. I would actually prefer that over social networking because that way you don't have to deal with all the unnecessary pop ups and gadgets that Facebook has. If the computer communication was absolutely impossible, my group members and I could always refer back to the 1960's when computers were unavailable. We could use our feather and ink to write out handwritten letters. We would have to incllude lots of information into each letter considering they won't be received for many days. This, of course, is only if technology is out of the question.

Reflection: Lemay's Criticism of Franklin's Autobiography

Although many believed that Benjamin Franklin’s thirteen virtues were just a challenge to be accomplished, Franklin claimed that they meant much more. Along with being a challenge, the thirteen virtues were to help him become a better person. He served as a learning lesson for many that watched his journey to get through the virtues. In the end, Franklin proved that the thirteen virtues not only make you a better person, but they also help you reach the American dream.
The first point that Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography made, according to J. A. Leo Lemay, was the rise from rags to riches (Lemay para. 4). Because Franklin invented many things during the rationalism period, he was not a poor or unknown man. He was also an ambassador for America. Despite the fact that he was wealthy and a very notable man, Benjamin Franklin did not show off his wealth (Langley). He stayed very noble and was gracious for his newfound popularity. The second point was the rise from impotence to importance (Lemay para. 6). This would also include dependence to independence and helplessness to power. Lemay even categorized Franklin’s Autobiography as the common success story that contains the rise of a hero (Lemay para. 4). The third point that Lemay found was the philosophy of individualism (Lemay para. 12). This has a large part to do with the popularity of Deism during the Rationalism Period. The philosophy of Deism believes that all people are naturally good. They just make good or bad choices (discussion). This was also the time where people were separating themselves from the church and creating their own ideas instead. The autobiography also touched on the importance of free will instead of determinism (Lemay para. 13). During this time, it was a common belief that one was either damned or elect (Langley). It was believed that only the church knew who fit into what category. Some people claimed that this was a scan. More continued to follow in their belief and, as a reaction, free will became more common (Langley). The fifth and final point Lemay made over Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography was the philosophy of hope (Lemay para. 17). I agree that Franklin was a great example of a role model because of his brave actions and intellect, but I can’t decipher whether this “philosophy of hope” is from Franklin’s words or from Lemay’s infatuation with the autobiography.
All of these points and notes were taken from Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography. A major focus in his autobiography was the thirteen virtues Franklin had to work hard to accomplish. Franklin spent thirteen weeks trying to meet his goal, adding on another virtue each week. He used a chart to keep record of his facts (Franklin 52).
It is obvious from Leo Lemay’s writing that he is a big fan of Benjamin Franklin. He claims, “Franklin deliberately creates a certain kind of fictive world, embodies that world in some unforgettable scenes, creates and sustains one character who is among the most memorable in American literature, and writes vivid truths that strike us with a shock of recognition” (Lemay para. 23). He also tends to write in a biased view that focuses on the optimistic side of Franklin.

Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Henry Altemus, 1895. Print.

Langley, John. "Lemay's Criticism on The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin." B2 English 332 Class. Pleasant Plains High School, Pleasant Plains, IL. 3 Oct. 2011. Lecture.

Lemay, J.A. Leo. "Franklin's Autobiography and the American Dream." In The Renaissance Man in the Eighteenth Century. Los Angeles: William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, 1978. Quoted as "Franklin's Autobiography and the American Dream." 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.

Journal #14 - Apprentice

As Benjamin Franklin's apprentice, I do anything that the talented man asks of me. Sometimes his requests are odd, like the time he sent me out to attach a key to a kite, but I follow through with every task no matter how strange they may be. I know that no matter how crazy the things he asks of me, the man has a plan. I have been able to watch Benjamin Franklin, the visionary, at work, and it has been very influential. Seeing his mind travel from one idea to another is an inspiration, and I realize how lucky I am to have such an amazing employer. One recent assignment that Mr. Franklin gave me was to proof read and edit a speech that he wrote. He will be reading it at The Constitution Convention in Virginia next week. I was honored, as his first hand man, to be the one that he came to to criticize his work. Speeches are not the only thinks Mr. Franklin comes to me about. Whenever he is having a bad day dealing with personal problems, he will come to me to brighten his day. I usually tell him a clever aphorism to make him feel better. He seems to really enjoy them. My favorite part of working for Mr. Franklin is the chats we have during our spare time. He is the kindest man. In fact, he hates that I Call him Mr. and prefers that I refer to him just simply as Benny. Mr. Franklin is also a very brilliant man. Many folks have questioned his intentions and his measures, but I truly believe he will change the world someday. His mind comes up with the craziest ideas, but his ability to explain them and act upon them is completely genius. It makes me sad that not everyone will have a chance to know Benjamin Franklin in the way that I do, but that is just one more reason for me to be thankful. I would not be the person I am today had it not been for Mr. Franklin. Thanks to him and his one-of-a-kind mind, I can experiment with pride knowing that it takes one success out of all of those fails to make a change.

Journal #13 - American Dream

The American Dream. Each person’s view of the American dream is a little different. In my opinion, the dream life for any American would be based on the necessities.  I feel a person should be happy knowing they work hard eveyday to provide what their family needs, no matter how much money you have left over. I don’t know the exact percentage of Americans that are in poverty standards, but I know it’s a lot more than what people think. If people could just be grateful for what they have instead of feeling the need to one up their friends and neighbors, America wouldn't be in the financial crisis they are in. It also explains the spell that the media and luxuries have on us these days. So here it is: My Opinion of the American dream. It would start with a positive childhood, one that might have its flaws, but provides a stable and comfortable home. A proper education would also be a part of the American dream. This would include elementary through college education. The only exception to this point would be if trade school was your preference. After you receive an education, finding a nice job would be definitely a dream. These days, it can be very difficult to find a job right out of school. A job, no matter what the pay, would be involved in the American dream. One that has you working hard for the nest promotion is preferred. After you get a job, meeting the right person, settling down, and starting a family would all be the next steps of the American dream. Buying a house and being able to support your family's needs would be the final step. After all of these things are accomplished, one can sit back and enjoy his or her time on earth and be thankful for all that they have. A major point to make, however, is that several of these steps have exceptions. Some people might not want to go to college, or get married, or even start a family. That's another reason why it's hard to describe the American dream because it is different for everybody.

Comparisons: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is remembered for being a man of many trades and having invented a number of today’s necessities. He is easily considered one of the greatest, most iconic man in American history. However, our English book taught me one thing about this iconic man that I was very surprised to hear. According to the Before You Read section in our work book, Benjamin Franklin was opposed to American Independence in the beginning. It wasn’t until he advised the British Government and was ignored before he sided with the colonists. In fact, he was quick to move to Philadelphia to participate in the writing of The Declaration of Independence. Who would have thought that the man, who has written some of America’s most important documents, was once opposed to their own freedom? The section from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin that is in our novel begins when Benjamin is leaving Britain and on his way to Philadelphia. Similar to the Mary Rowlandson story we read awhile back, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is documenting a journey that the narrator is taking. This is, however, one of the very few similarities that I found between Franklin’s writings and those of Puritan style. He tends to use a broader vocabulary compared to Rowlandson and even Anne Bradstreet. He is also much more descriptive in his writing style because he gives great detail when describing himself and the places he visits. Franklin even admits, “I have been the more particular in this description of my journey, and shall be so of my first entry into that city, that you may in your mind compare such unlikely beginnings with the figure I have since made there” (Franklin 108). Another example of Benjamin’s style that differs from Puritan’s is the use of complex and compound. Puritan writing tends to be simple, straight to the point sentences, which The Autobiography was not. Another form of similarity between the writing styles of Ben Franklin and the Puritans was the importance of a moral in the story. Puritan’s always made a point to teach a lesson in their writings, and, although it wasn’t necessarily the main focus in Franklin’s piece, he did make the effort to teach a lesson. He states, “Man is sometimes more generous when he has little money than when he has plenty; perhaps to prevent his being thought to have but little”(Franklin 108). I would even consider that statement to be an example of an aphorism.

Puritan writing focused largely on religion. People during this time period lived their lives according to the Bible and what they thought God expected of them. Their lessons and ideas had a lot to do with religion. This was different than what was seen in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. He spoke very little about church or God, until he reached Philadelphia. He explains how he followed a group into a Quaker church, but intended up falling asleep for most of the service. Franklin wasn’t even a Quaker. I can’t imagine the idea of going to a church that you don’t belong to going over well in the Puritan era.

Franklin, Benjamin. "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 106-108. Print.

Rationalism: Thomas Paine

A change was happening at this time amongst the new settlers in America. Change happens often in time, and in this particular case, it was a change for the better. This change was seen in the ideas and actions of the colonists, and it became known as the Rationalism Period. People began to stand up for what they believed in, make their own decisions, and fight their own wars (literally). This time period was also referred to as Enlightenment or The Age of Reason because people were thinking logically instead of religiously. Instead of focusing on an after life, people used the power of reason and science to further self-fulfillment and human life. In class, we often refer to the idea of God being the ‘clock maker’. He set up the pieces of the world, but then stood back to allow the people to decide for themselves, while he watched. The Rationalism Period was very much a time where reason was valued over faith. One man who seemed to lead the way for the Rationalism Period along with many other was Thomas Paine. He even states, “My own line of reasoning is to myself as straight and clear as a ray of light” (Paine 136). Although he was taken out of grammar school at a young age to work as an apprentice, Paine worked hard to build an education for himself. He felt very strongly towards the Revolutionary War and made many speeches and held rallies against Britain. Paine wrote The Crisis, No. 1 to encourage settlers that the Revolutionary War was very much necessary. He often compared to the British government as the mother, and that she was suffocating her kids, which were the colonists The Crisis, No. 1 was also used to rally up the colonists to want to fight for their freedom against the British. He says, “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph” (Paine 134). In fact, The Crisis, No. 1 was read the men in the military I order to, for a lack of better words, pump them up to fight. Like I mentioned before, Thomas Paine was a large part of the Rationalism Period, but even he looked to God in times of need. He admits, “I have as little superstition in me as any man living; but my secret opinion has ever been and still is, that God Almighty will not give up a people to military destruction, or leave them unsupported to perish, who have so earnestly and so repeatedly sought to avoid the calamities of war, by every decent method which wisdom could invent” (Paine 135). He even encourages the colonists the praise God and to fight in his honor. “Say not that the thousands are gone--turn your tens of thousands; throw not the burden of the day upon Providence, but show your faith by your works, that God may bless you” (Paine 136).

Paine, Thomas. "The Crisis, No.1." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 134-136. Print.

Journal #12- Rules

Making up my own rules, let's see... I would start by changing up the school's rules. The Cardinal Code would be thrown in the trash. Tank tops and short shorts would be allowed. Heck, girls could wear pajamas to school every day if they wanted to. I would also make new rules aside from the dress code. Of course, purses would be back allowed. That rule is so dumb, and I don't understand why they even made it. The next rule is that homework would be optional! I don't actually mind homework that much unless I have a busy schedule and can't get to it. If I forgot homework I should be able to get a pass on it. I find that to be totally fair. Another rule for the dress code that I forgot before: I think that it would be alright if the guys didn't wear shirts to school. I don't think there would be anything greater than spending my chemistry class focusing on a nice set of abs instead of taking boring notes on Stoichiometry. If no shirt isn't your style, feel free to wear cut offs. They give a preview with sharing the entire thing, so they are acceptable. Haha Oh my gosh, I am the weirdest person. Please, if you are reading this.. I'm really not this creepy in person. I will create one final rule that will make you see that I am a semi-normal human being. The school should have a no tolerance for disrespect. Whether it's between a student or teacher or student to student, disrespect needs to be unacceptable. Bullying is a major issue in today's society, and nothing is more annoying than sitting in class when a teacher is continually interrupted by some stupid student. Whenever acts of disrespect occur the student needs to be sent straight to the office and given a detention.Nothing makes me more aggravated than watching a student harass another person. It is so degrading and needs to be changed at PPHS.  

Journal #11- Aphorism

Misery Loves Company.

- ancient writer, Sophocles (c. 408 B.C.)

I honestly believe that no one can understand this quote better than a teenage girl. Our lives revolve around drama. One day it’s a fight with this girl and the next it’s a rumor about another. I admit, being constantly surrounded with drama is no way to live, but there are just people out there who can’t help but start it. And it just so happens to be that I am friends with quite a few of them. I know, I’m great at picking friends, but that’s another topic/another blog/another day. This aphorism isn’t to confusing. It deals with those who feel the need to bring others down with them when they aren’t in the best of moods. I can come up with a number of instances when friends aren’t having the best of days, and they have to make a rude comment to bring me down to their level. There used to be one girl in my group of friends who we called ‘The Tornado’ because whenever she was in an unhappy mood, she would come through and destroy the attitudes of all the girls in the group. Let me tell you! This girl had a talent for doing this. It was scary how much drama she could create between us when really she was just having guy troubles and wanted all of us to feel as bad as she did. Thankfully, ‘The Tornado’ is no longer in my group of friends. After she left, all the girls took a sigh of relief because we were able to relax and not have to worry about what tornado’s next freak out would be. I don’t understand why people feel the need to do this. I would much rather get advice or comfort from a friend instead of making them feel as bad as I do. It’s a sick way to act, and thanks to ‘The Tornado’, I know not to surround myself with people that act this way anymore.

Faulty Logic: Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson’s speech to Congress was most likely the greatest piece of propaganda that I have ever read. He shares his knowledge in hopes of receiving action to support his ideas. Jefferson is undoubtedly a talented speaker, but that’s not to say the forms of faulty logic were used in his speech. His speech is made up of his complaints on the British control that is over the colonies. He shares his, mostly negative, opinions of the British government, which he constantly refers to as the pronoun ‘he’. The amount of opinion and emotion that is involved in the speech is his first mistake of faulty logic. He should have given one opinion and then a fact to support it, but instead Jefferson let out all of his feelings before giving a single source to back them up. It was a lazy opener for the speech because it made him appear unprofessional. Besides the single perspective opener, the speech was actually very well prepared and conducted. Jefferson had plenty of facts to support his opinions. He claimed that the British government made the colony leaders uncomfortable for discussions, which resulted in the leaders just agreeing with whatever they said because they were unprepared. The British also ignored the complaints from the colonists, cut off their trade, and gave them obscene taxes (Jefferson 123). From what I have learned in history class, all of these statements sound about right. The British government eventually came unconcerned with the colonists and really only used them to make a profit. They would use their raw materials and crops to make money. When the country became deep in debt, they ordered the American colonists to pay taxes to help relieve them. Jefferson even says, “He [the British government] has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people” (Jefferson 124). It was very unfair, so Thomas Jefferson took a stand to make things right for the colonists. At the time, Jefferson would have been considered the perfect example of a renaissance man. He was an inventor, lawyer, and a botanist among many other titles. In fact, he is considered the writer of the Declaration of Independence. Although it was edited by others, the ideas were mostly his own. His words have proven to stand the test of time. His speech in front of Congress, however, still holds one piece of faulty logic. Jefferson’s words and actions proved to be contradictory towards each other. During his speech, Jefferson says, “We hold the truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Jefferson 122). He firmly states that all men are created equal, but, during this time, all that really means is that all white men are created equal. The “Before You Read” section on Thomas Jefferson shares and interesting fact with readers. It talks about how Jefferson disagreed with the idea of slavery, yet he had slaves of his own. Again, I understand that slavery was very common at this time in American colonies, but one would think that Thomas Jefferson, a highly respected and intelligent man, would live life by the statements he makes.

Jefferson, Thomas. "Declaration of Independence." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 122-125. Print.

Journal #10- Vocab

No! We should absolutely not have to do Vocabulary Unit Three Day One today! Please, please just one day off Mr. Langley! I have come up with a (pretty bias) list of why we shouldn't do them.
Reason One: I don't know about all the other students in this English 332 class, but I am pretty behind on my work. I have several journals and reflections that still need to be done. A catch up day would be a lot more beneficial than moving onto another vocabulary section.
Reason Two: Let's be honest, we never get through the day's work anyways. On Mr. Langley's site he has a list for what we need to get through each class day. Usually, we only get through about half of the work, and then the rest is assigned for homework. By skipping vocab today, we will have a better chance of getting through all of the day's work. That way I won't be stacked with even more homework. Heck, I probably won't even get this journal done before class is over today, let alone vocab definitions.
Reason Three: Vocab, really? It's such a fifth grade thing. We have only done two units of vocab in this class so far, and I honestly couldn't tell you the definition of any of the words we have done. Heck, I probably couldn't even name a word we have done. Vocab is one of those things that I do what I have to, but I don't really take in the information.  I find the definition online, create a derivative, and put the word in a sentence for two weeks, but ask me a definition a day after that test and I would be clueless on what you're talking about. Maybe there are people who enjoy vocab and adding new words to their daily jargon, but let's be real, I'm not about to have a conversation with one of my friends that involves the terms seminal or unobtrusive. So, not only should we not have vocab today, but lets not have vocab for the rest of the year. Sounds like a great plan to me!

Rationalism: Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry’s speech, given at the Second Virginia Convention, was anything but dull. He proudly spoke his opinion throughout the piece as a way to engage his audience. His main reasons for this speech were to engage and persuade the officials that the colonists need to go to war. Although most of Henry’s speech is opinion and emotion, he is able to explain his case respectfully. He prefaces his speech by saying, “But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining, as I do, opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve” (Henry 116). Most importantly, Patrick Henry was able to back up his information. He explained how the petition the colonists created was disregarded and their protests were ignored. This speech was the final way to share the way he felt. He tried his hardest to explain to listeners that if they didn’t prepare for war now, the English would be quick to attack. He claims, “Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven” (Henry 117). Although God is discussed in the last quote, Patrick Henry really doesn’t talk about God in his speech. Religion was no longer the basis for the colonists’ actions. Because he is taking control of a situation and trying to change things himself, Henry’s speech is more of an example of Rationalism instead of Puritan. He is making his own decisions and not focusing so much on what the Bible would have wanted. His sentence structure is also a lot more compound than would have used by the Puritans. 


Another source of pure emotion and opinion is John Edwards’ sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Both men try to threaten their audiences into getting what they want. Edwards says, 

But here you are in the land of the living, and in the house of God, and have a opportunity to obtain salvation. What would not those poor damned, helpless souls give for one day’s such opportunity as you know enjoy. (Edwards 99)

The statement shows that the message Edwards was sending was great, but his approach came off as threatening. In most cases, however, the statements made by John Edwards were opinioned and threatening. Sometimes an angry approach works when you are trying to get your way, but in Edwards’ case, I believe more people would have been more apprehensive than persuaded. His sermon tries to literally “put the fear of God” into the church members. This approach would scare me away much faster than it would resonate in me. John Edwards also manages to use faulty logic in his sermon. He uses harsh humor and name calling which were supposed to support his opinion, but instead they just made his speech look very unprofessional and disrespectful. 


Henry, Patrick. "Speech to the Second Virginia Convention." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 116-118. Print.


Edwards, Jonathan. "From Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 97-99. Print.

Journal #9-Rational v. Emotional

I have a friend that is always emotional. Her name is Abby, and she attends Glenwood High. She is always having issues with her boyfriend, and I am the lucky one who gets to hear all about them. She gets very emotional when her and her boyfriend are fighting, which is always, and I have to find a way to calm her down and make her feel better about herself. I think this side of a person is really important in friendships. To have someone there who you can go to chat with that will always make you feel better is important. Whenever Abby is having one of these crying fits over her jerk of a boyfriend, I have to comfort her. Comments like "You deserve better," "He is such a jerk just dump him," and many more are common amongst these conversations. I usually try to say anything that will calm Abby down, even if I don't always mean it. She could be balling with mascara running down her face and I will say the nicest, sweetest, most friendly comment I could think of in order to make her stop crying. When cases like these come about, I try to stay calm and be comforting to stop Abby's exhausting outburst of emotion. It's important to be this way because it will balance the feelings. Using aggressive confrontations to control angered emotions will never end well. I'm not really an intense person, so an agressive confrontation would never be my style. This journal topic is actually kind of funny because Abby and I recently got into it. We had a large disagreement, and I had to find a way to make things better. She used her anger and gossip to tear me down, and I had to defend myself in the most calm and pleasant way possible. By the time the drama is all over, I look better because I chose to handle the siuation respectfully.

Journal #8-Autumn

I would have to consider autumn to be one of my favorite seasons. The warm weather with a slight breeze feels amazing. I also love walking out my front door and seeing the ground covered in leaves and the smell of bonfires outside. It is the perfect season to be outside and celebrate as a family. TIMEOUT! Danny just asked if he could go to the bathroom, and Mr. Langley said, "Not in my room!" K. Wowwww. I have never laughed so hard in my life. Back to autumn... It is a propitious season. (vocab word. whoop, whoop.) It is the season with the best holidays! Halloween and Thanksgiving are awesome! My family doesn't live near Springfield, so I love this time of year because I get to visit them a lot more. Cooking up all of the classic family dishes is my favorite Thanksgiving tradition. I also love dress up with my friends and celebrating the creepy crawly holida that is Halloween. The actual start of fall isn't until September 23, but the weather has already qualified as perfect fall weather. I, too, have already been getting into the spirit of the season. I have attended many bonfires and cooked outside. I also work at a cute little shop and garden in Petersburg, Il. They are having a fall festival in the coming weeks, and I am helping them prepare for it. I am doing things like pulling weeds from the garden, drying flowers, and washing pumpkins. I am really enjoying working their because there is a lot that needs to be done in the fall season. I also love the sports that are played in the fall. I prefer watching football on television (Go Green Bay Packers!), and I prefer watching the soccer team at Pleasant Plains High School. I have also attended several football games at the University of Missouri. The weather is perfect for tailgating before the game and cheering in the stadium. Now that I think about it, autumn might really be my favorite season!

The Crucible: Act Four

Jonathan Edwards, who, according to the Before You Read section in our textbook, was considered the most influential American writer before Benjamin Franklin, preached using the terrors of religion. Although I feel like I wouldn't have responded well to his intense preaching techniques, it must have worked for some people because we are still reading his speeches today. Edwards has many ways to engage his listeners and get them to feel his same emotion towards religion. For starters, he builds them up with his words and dramatic feelings. How can one not get caught up in a speech when the speaker is using such emotion? He also attempts to make the listener feel bad for their blessings by comparing them to the less fortunate. "What would not those poor damned, helpless souls give for one day's such opportunity as you now enjoy!" (Edwards 99). His anger and words are used in order to bring listeners down to his level. I understand that his job as a preacher is to engage listeners, but doing it in this way is very wrong in my opinion. One harsh quote that stood out to me was the following. "You are ten thousand times so abominable in his eyes, as the most hateful and venomous serpent is in ours" (Edwards 98). I think the name calling and tearing down is completely unnecessary when trying to prove a point, especially because Edwards does not show much support for his own opinions. Similar to how Edwards uses anger and intense lessons to engage his readers, the characters of The Crucible use fear to find what they are looking for. They threaten, and eventually prove, that if you have any part in the act of witch craft, you will be hanged. If one was believed to be a part of the witch craft, they would be tortured until they admitted to it. How this served a purpose is beyond me because if you continue hurting someone to get them to admit something, of course they will admit to it even if it is falsified. In the end, people will be hanged if they did or didn't get involved in the witch craft. This was the case for John Proctor. He admitted to performing witch craft, but he was really innocent. John Edwards puts it best when he says, "God is dreadfully provoked, his anger is as great towards them as to the fierceness of his wrath in hell, and they have done nothing in the least" (Edwards 97). Proctor's decision to admit to a crime that he did not commit was a large symbol in the novel. He offered himself as a way to end the rumors and conflict in his community. Judging by Jonathan Edwards' speech, he would most likely not have agreed with Proctor's actions. "Look at other things, as the good state of your bodily constitution, your care of your own life, and the means you use for your own preservation" (Edwards 97-98). However, Proctor made his decision and added a sympathetic touch to the story.


Edwards, Jonathan. "From Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 97-99. Print.

Journal #7- Bullying

Bullying is an awful epidemic that has been a large topic in today's media. Suicides have been committed as a result of bullying, and advocates have since stood up to discuss the situation and help prevent similar actions. There are many kinds of bullying. Making fun of a person and teasing them about personal problems is probably the most common form of bullying. I will admit that I have witnessed a situation where someone is jokingly teasing another student, but the victim doesn't find it to be funny. I pride myself on knowing that if I ever got caught up in a bully/victim situation, I would put an end to it, but at this particular instance, I did nothing. This is not my proudest moment, so I am not happy to admit it. I just felt that letting the jokes go would be easier thatn making a scene out of the comments and embarrassing the student that is getting teased. Looking back, I know that saying something could have reassured the victim, and helped them realize that they were doing nothing wrong and didn't deserve the comments.

I truly believe that kids learn from what they see. Adults in the media make fun of each other and make nasty comments towards one another. Kids just see these actions and relate them into their own lives. It annoys me so much when grown ups preach and preach on how you need to be nice and respect ohers, yet they don't take their own advice and make inappropriate comments toowards others. Hate is a strong word, but it is what we are doing when we start rumors and gossip about each other. It can be hard to stay away from, but living without this hate makes for a much more positive life.

The Crucible: Act Three

I am currently enrolled in Psychology, and although we have only had a few weeks worth of classes, I have still learned a lot. For starters, psychology is the study of human behavior. One very important factor in human behavior is the environment in which the human is surrounded by. The actions and conflicts in The Crucible are very well due to the environment of the characters. One example of this is the Christian community that is portrayed in the novel. God is a major role in the lives of every character, not to mention the plot itself. Because the characters live their lives based on Christianity, when the idea of witch craft comes into play, all the people want to do is to get rid of the ones involved in such sin. If one is accused of participating in the witch craft, they will be hanged. The Christians believed it was easier to get rid of them than deal with their problems. In Act Three Mary Warren is taken into court and accused of being the cause of the witch craft. Abigail and the young girls blame Mary and cause a scene in the court room. Abigail even goes as far to say, Let you beware, Mr. Danforth. Think you to be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits?Beware of it!" (Miller 108) As a result of all the blame and chaos, Marry admits to the witch craft even though it was a complete lie. I believe this traces back to human nature. Mary probably found it easier to throw in the towel and admit to a lie instead of fighting for her freedom. I think the basic idea of Mary's actions can be very relatable. Sometimes in life, it's easier to give up rather than fight for something. Although we are taught to keeping fighting, humans are on average lazy, an therefore find it much easier to stop while they are ahead. Abigail has proven to be a very mischievious character in the novel and has been the cause behind a lot of the conflict. She created drama between John and Mary Proctor. Abigail also took part in blaming Mary of witchcraft in hopes of tearing up her and John. Although Mary ended up confessing, Abigail still didn't get what she wanted because she is crazy.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY. Penguin, 1976. Print.

Journal #6 - Blaming Others

Let's be honest. There is one time when blaming others is allowed. That's what siblings are for, right? If I leave a plate on the counter or a candy wrapper on the couch and my mom questions me about it, of course I am going to blame my brother for it. College ruins this scenario, though. Whenever I go to blame my brother for things, I forget that he no longer lives in our house, and I can't use him to cover for me. Stupid college, you're killing my laziness. However, blaming innocent people (that aren't blood related) is not appropriate. It is beyond disrespectful and rude. When it involves serious matters, blaming others can be considered illegal. For instance, blaming another person for a crime that you witnessed could end up with you in jail for lying. There are harsh consequences for blaming others if you are found out. However, I believe the hardest punishments to deal with are those that you give yourself. Blaming others can cause major build up of regret inside one's self because only you know what you have done. This build up of emotion could cause major depression and moral instability. There is no worse feeling than having a regret or an internal feeling of knowing that you have done wrong. It builds up and all you want to do is come clean, but you can't when it has to do with something bad. All in all, blaming others is bad. Simple as that. You shouldn't do it because it is wrong. Even if it is a sibling, it will eventually come back and bite you in the butt. Whether it's if your parents witness you lying, or if you keep blaming them 18 years later when they are gone to college. Then you just look straight dumb, so pick just do what’s right and pick up that candy wrapper or be honest to your friend about her new haircut because their reaction (good or bad) will be ten times better than the pressure you can cause for yourself.

The Crucible:Act Two

According to the test we took in class, every person can be summed up in one out of four color personalities. The characters of The Crucible are no exception. John Proctor, popular in Act Two for his affair with Abigail Williams, is a very strong example of a gold personality. He was a proud man and worked hard to keep himself good in name. He was accused of doing bad things with Abigail and later admitted to them. He told his wife, "I should have roared you down when first you told me your suspicion. But I wilted, and, like a Christian, I confessed. Confessed! Some dream I had must have mistaken you for God that day. But you're not, you're not, and let you remember it! Let you took sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me not (Miller 55)." After all of the wrong that he did, John continued to try to keep his family together. Gold personalities are very power oriented and show leaership, so I think John fits nicely into the category (Lowry Online). The next color of the four personality types is green. Knowing that green describes a clever, research oriented person, I think Reverend Hale suits the color best (Lowry Online). He served as the peace maker for the novel. John and Elizabeth Proctor called upon Hale to help them end their marriage issues. He acted as a judge hearing both sides and making conclusions. He also spent a lot of time in search of the witches. His Christian ways caused him to examine Betty for witchcraft as if she was a science experiment. The reverend was nosy and very interesed into the religious views of the Proctor's, and he encouraged the community to testify in the witchcraft case. The next category is blue, which portrays an emotional, romantic character (Lowry Online). Out of the characters in The Crucible, I would choose Elizabeth Proctor as a blue personality. She stands up for herself against her husband, John. She tries to come off as being tough during their argument, but is really emotional through the entire thing. A similar situation happened when she was being arrested. She tried to be tough through it, but the narrator admits that there were tears in her eyes. Finally, we have a yellow personality. I am picking Abigail Williams for this group becuase she is a free spirit and does what she wants. She's a liar and looked down upon in the religion based society becuase of her wrong actions. Although she knows she is disrespected, Abigail continues to do what she wants.


Lowry, Don. "True Colors." True-colors.com. True Colors International. Web. 11 Sept. 2011.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York, NY. Penguin, 1976. Print.

Journal #4 - 21st Century Punishment

As a preface for this journal entry, I would like to tell my mother, Joansie, to never, ever, ever, ever, ever read what I am about to write. Since it deals with consequencing the children of the 21st Century, Joansie should have nothing to do with it. Plus, I don't need to be giving my own mother ideas to ruin my life. Okay, now that that issue is covered we can begin.

Kids of the 21st Century spend all of their time glued to technology. Television, iPods, and the internet are just a few ways that my generation finds to procrastinate on work and to waste time. I have heard of many cases where parents will take away laptops or cell phones as a punishment for their children. I have never had any issue with said punishment because I am a perfect child. (Again, Joansie should never read this.) I receive complaints all the times from friends who get their phones turned off of get their keys taken away. However, if I was given the punishment of no phone or laptop, I would do anything to get them back. It would probably work very well because some kids would go crazy without these pieces of technology. Taking away cars is also a common punishment because then kids are unable to hang out with their friends let alone leave the house.

If I were a parent today, with a 21st Century child, I would use parental controls to punish my kids. I would consider television to be my life. Reality, News, criminal shows, I love them all! If it was a Thursday night, I would be looking forward to watching Jersey Shore all day. Just imagine: I go to sit down on my couch with snacks and turn the TV to channel 160 only to see a parental control pop up! I would be so mad! My mother is a baby of the baby boom generation; therefore, she is to old to understand technology. Thank goodness. (Sorry Joansie)