Homework 4.22.08

The poem combines images of war with birth and death by mentioning war in the first line, then tying it to the ideas of losing life and new life. When war is mentioned, death often follows. This poem also mentions sperm banks, which introduces the idea of new life replacing life that is lost. I think the author focuses on the idea of sperm banks because some soldiers now are having their sperm frozen when they go off to war so that if they die, their spouses can produce children that are technically theirs. Since the soldier is talking to a poet, it isn't written as a news piece, as a journalist would write it. It gives more detailed information "stars and striped in sticky paws may sow the seeds for future wars". This specific line is also true since the future war mentioned is happening now. 

Classwork 4.17.08

Lion : an animal often considered the 'king of the jungle', large, strong, in the cat family, carnivore, mammal
Lioness : a female form of a lion, known for going to great lengths to protect her young, hunting habits are instictive

I did not have the same reaction as the other blogger. When I read the story my initial reaction was pondering in what ways I would describe or think of myself if I was stripped of my name. Without my name to identify myself, who am I? This made me think of a long list of physical characteristics and other personality components that compose who I am.

Homework 4.10.08

Research:

-the sirens were 3 seducing bird women that lived on an island full of cliffs and rocks

-the Trojan War broke out when Paris of Troy stole Helen from Menelaus, who was her husband and the king of Sparta

-Ulysses is also known as Odysseus

-Odysseus was a famous king of Ithica (a Greek province) that sailed around the world and was away from home for ten years while fighting the Trojan War

-Agamemnon was the commander of the Achaeans during the Trojan War who was later murdered by his wife when he returned from battle

-Leda was the mother of Helen and the queen of Sparta

Homework 4.3.08

After reading A Jury of Her Peers and Trifles by Susan Glaspell many differences can be seen. Trifles is written as more of a dialogue and meant to be read by different individuals acting it out as a play. I found reading it to be difficult since it was hard ti picture where each of the characters was, from the italicized notes. It was also hard to understand as a single reader since minor details, such as each individual character's feelings, are excluded from the dialogue. A Jury of Her Peers is much easier to comprehend if only one reader is reading it. The version also seemed to proved the reader with a more thorough analysis of what is going on inside each character's mind and the subtle glances between the two women, which are crucial to the story. I felt that neither story included more cultural or historical analyses, thus, a historical analysis would be written the same way for either version. Both versions include similar details relating to the time in which the story is set. In conclusion, I found Trifles to be more confusing since it was difficult to follow the dialogue format. If Trifles had been acted out in front of me, versus independently read, it would have been easier to understand. A Jury of Her Peers clearly and concisely laid out everything that was happening inside the house.  

Homework 4.1.08

I chose to do a historical analysis of "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved" by Hunter S. Thompson. The main words I would use for my search would be "kentucky derby", "Black Panthers", "Nixon and Cambodia", and "Kent State" to try to get a better grasp of what was going on at the time this story is set in. I doing research, I would need to get a firm grasp of the history of the Kentucky Derby and what exactly happened there during this time period. What it famous for riots? Where drunks everywhere? Was it only an event attended by the classy and wealthy? The story give many clues about its historical context by mentioning current events. It seems as though fear was widespread during this time and there might have been political unrest in the country. 

Homework 3.27.08 (cont.)

CR 147-154: The theme of this story is that one woman is trying to find her place in society. She struggles since she is caught in between her Chinese heritage and American upbringing. It is from the point of view of the woman herself as she struggles to feel a sense of belonging in the world.

Homework 3.27.08

CR 274-276: The main theme of the story is that the way in which you treat others is how you can expect to be treated. In the story, Becky's sons are ostracized by the community and excluded. Neither the whites or blacks accept them and people are punished if they are associated with the boys. Thus, the boys go on a rampage and leave the town. Becky is left by herself and no one even knows if she is living or deceased. The story's setting plays a huge role in providing the reader with details. It is set in a small town a long time ago when horse and buggy and train were used for transportation. It is described as an autumn day when the chimney falls in on the house. It is easy to visualize the eye-shaped patch of land Becky's house sits on, as a sliver between the road and the tracks. The theme is developed by following the character's in the beginning stages, when Becky had the first child, through the end of the story when the boys are grown and leave.