Classwork 1.31.08

In painting my mood this morning I would paint it mostly grey, since I'm exhausted. I'd also paint in some red since I got in a fight with a friend of mine last night, and I might also paint in some pink because overall I'm pretty happy-and pink is a happy color.

Homework 1.31.08

Hills Like White Elephants

1. In the story the couple is anguishing over whether or not the pregnant woman should have an abortion. In the first half of the story the man is trying to convince the girl, Jig, to get the procedure. He tries to tell her that it's a simple operation and once it is done, the rest takes care of itself naturally. She repeatedly asks him if she should go through with it and if he thinks it's a good idea. He promises that he will stay with her and take care of her through the whole thing. She then asks if their relationship will go back to being the way it used to be and if they will be happy again. He said that since he has had friends go through this, whom were all happy afterwards, they too would be happy. In the second half of the story the man and woman go back and forth between decisions. He said that he wants her to get the abortion, but only if she wants to. She gets upset and ends the conversation when he said that he it doesn't mean anything to him. He tries to give her a little space by leaving the table for a moment. When he returns, he asks her if she is okay and she replies that she is "fine". The woman is clearly struggling with the decisions, especially since she knows how badly the man wants her to have the abortion. She is teetering between what she wants for her relationship, and what she knows is right. 

Girl

1. The two speakers in the story are a mother and daughter. Their identities are revealed throughout the story in the text. When the mother is speaking the text is upright, but when the daughter speaks the text is italicized. It is obviously that it is a mother giving a daughter advice because she is describing how to perform household chores and how to be of help to her father. 

The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

1. The narrator of the story is an American-Indian man trying to find his place in the world. He describes that he was the "golden boy" of his town; a star basketball player and college student. Yet, his life was derailed when he started drinking and turned into an alcoholic. He describes how he left his home on the reservation to live in the city with his girlfriend but eventually returned since they always fought. He seems as though he doesn't know what to do with his life. He was once revered as a great, successful individual. Now, he is out of work and no longer the athlete he once was. He was expected to leave the reservation and have his own life, but he has been living at home. He eventually decides that he is going to get a job and clean up. His attitude and approach to the life he leads is nonchalant and laid back, which is expressed in the last line of the story when he says, "I know how all my dreams end anyway". He doesn't seem eager to live life. 

Classwork 1.24.08

Close reading is reading to gain a basic understanding of the text and then reading to identify hidden meanings in the text. In order to read closely you may have to read the text a number of times before fully grasping all the concepts.

I would define pastoral as an individual looking on as a fatherly figure and being able to provide support if it is needed, such as a pastor in a church. OED defines pastoral as a person or thing associated with spiritual care. I think of a mistress as a seductress or woman participating in illicit acts with a married man. Mistress is deinfed as a woman having control or authority. I think of a nymph as a creature living in a forest, like they are portrayed in the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Nymph is defined as a semi-defined spirit often portrayed in poetry as an attendant to a particular god.

Homework 1.24.08

6D : In "Black Elvis" the character's name has a direct connection to the story since he is an African-American Elvis impersonator. In "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" June Star's name is a metaphor for her hair color. She is described as having blonde, curly hair. And, since her hair is blonde and bright, it is reminiscent of a warmer season such as summer, hinting at the first part of her name. 

6E : Grandmother is a very hard word for me to use right now. My dad's mother died 10 months ago and her death hit me hard. She was always there for me, and gave me great perspective on life as a whole. It was very tough not having her to talk to about all the changes occurring in my life as I transitioned from high school to college. She was a truly incredible woman; 9 children of her own, 33 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and she loved us all equally yet had a special bond with each of us. She was also a very strong independent woman, which is what I aspire to be. I can't believe I haven't heard her voice in almost a year, I miss her very very much. 

"A Man Said to the Universe" Stephen Crane

This poem describes a man's joy in life. He is so thrilled to be given the gift of life that he proclaims his happiness to the universe. In response, the universe replies that although the man has life, the universe owes him nothing. The poem is saying that lift is something to be cherished and valued, but it is what you make it. In life, we are not promised happiness or success. Instead, we must seek whatever we hope to obtain since we are responsible for ourselves. 

"The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" Christopher Marlowe

In the poem, the shepherd is trying to convince his lover to live with him. He describes all the ways in which he can make her happy and all the luxuries he will provide her with. He has made plans for different special things they can do together, such as listening to birds singing, if she will go with him. The poem is proof of his deep love for her. 

Homework 1.22.08

Beyond Words

1. Texts can be poems, novels, plays (scripts), or music sheets.

4. Genre is defined as a category used to name and identify a text characterized by a particular form, style, or purpose.

12. Context is the who, what, when and where of a text.

17. Perspective is the illusion of depth in a painting.

18. Point of view is the angle at which a image is portrayed to the audience viewing it. 

Strategies

I. Reading styles

A. pleasure

1. read at a leisurely pace and we incorporate ourselves into the characters

B. academic

1. reading to gain understanding and knowledge

II. Reading in steps

A. first read to get a grasp of what is happening in the story, the setting, characters, and plot

B. annotate : make brief notes in the margins about what is happening or define unfamiliar terms

C. sketch outline: note character development, changes in plot, etc. without going into excessive detail

III. Dialogue

A. quotations recorded form the text paired with the reader's response set up in a list format

IV. Patterns

A. patterns of repetition : two or more things that are linked together in the text

B. patterns of opposition : something in the text that created tension or evoked strong negative emotions