I did not know that this poem was interesting until I read the link provided by the instructor.
Any kind of war is related to the death of people and when people die the population reduces. During the war people do not have time to procreate because they are fighting for their lives, liberty, etc. The war also bring some sides effects on the birth of new creature. A lot of them are born with defects, others with diseases. The substances such as DU (depleted uranium) have had drastic effects on the born of children everywhere they have been used.
The fact that the author is focusing on the idea of sperm banks and procreation is because a lot soldiers who faced conflict in the Gulf did freeze their sperms in sperm banks so that they can prevent their future children from being born with diseases caused by the radioactive material used in war.
It is important that the Iraqui soldier talk to to a poet because he thinks that poet could find the exact words to explain and describe his situation.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Ursula LeGuin’s “She Unnames Them” (CR 166-168),
I had a really hard time trying to figure out what the story was about but at the end I realized that it is from the beginning of time when everything was created and then there was a time to give names to the existing creatures. The lady in the story frees animals of their names and according to the story a lot animals were not in agreement with that because they claimed that their names were very important to them. The animals did not understand that the lady wanted to feel closer to them so she gave them names that maybe mean something to her. We usually give nicknames to those special people and things and I guess that was the lady's intention. The story is fiction but there is a important moral behind.
T.S. Eliot’s “Journey of the Magi” (CR 364-366),
Honestly this poem has to be read more then for times to really understand what is about. I read it twice and still couldn't fully catch the real meaning of the story.
But anyways according to the way I understood it, the poem is about things situations we face in life, good moments and bad moments. The journey doesn't seem pleasant for this people. They had a really hard time traveling on winter with camels with no shelter. I don't know if the objective and the destination of the journey were told in the story. So after I read the story my personal question became where are they going and who are they.
I had a really hard time trying to figure out what the story was about but at the end I realized that it is from the beginning of time when everything was created and then there was a time to give names to the existing creatures. The lady in the story frees animals of their names and according to the story a lot animals were not in agreement with that because they claimed that their names were very important to them. The animals did not understand that the lady wanted to feel closer to them so she gave them names that maybe mean something to her. We usually give nicknames to those special people and things and I guess that was the lady's intention. The story is fiction but there is a important moral behind.
T.S. Eliot’s “Journey of the Magi” (CR 364-366),
Honestly this poem has to be read more then for times to really understand what is about. I read it twice and still couldn't fully catch the real meaning of the story.
But anyways according to the way I understood it, the poem is about things situations we face in life, good moments and bad moments. The journey doesn't seem pleasant for this people. They had a really hard time traveling on winter with camels with no shelter. I don't know if the objective and the destination of the journey were told in the story. So after I read the story my personal question became where are they going and who are they.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Margaret Atwood’s “Siren Song”
This poem was really interesting to read. It was difficult for me to figure out what the author meant by sirens in the poem but when I looked up the information on Greek elements as the instructor said, I was able to break down what the author meant by that. I actually sirens are mythical figures whose enchanting voices lure sailors to their death. In this poem, Margaret Atwood uses sirens to draw a comparison between the myths and normal (modern) life. Men have always been victims of sirens in Greek myths the same way they are for women in the real life. So the role of the sirens in Greek myths is played in real life by women. In the Greek myths every man wants to hear the irresistible song sang by sirens the same way every man wants to have a woman in a real life.
The poem was interesting though because I could see the way Greek people interpret their myths.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “Ulysses
Honestly that was a hard story to analyze. Even with the help of the research of Greek elements I was not able to figure out what was this story about. It uses some weird words that I have never heard before and it makes the story really difficult to interpret.
But anyways all I did catch is that Ulysses was great King who married an aged woman. he became unsatisfied with his life as a king of Ithaca; I wonder how come a king be unsatisfied.
He fought the Trojans for years and tried to return home after the battle (I guess that is the main point of the story).He completed his journey back home but still felt like he wanted to get back to his life.
He felt like he is in duty with his country because he wanted to die as an hero instead of as a king.
William Butler Yeats’s “Leda and the Swan”
This poem is about a young lady called Leda who is being raped by a big bird (swan). According to the Geek myths, the God Zeus, now in form of a big swan t raped Leda. Actually he did because he wanted to finish with one are. In the end she hatched three eggs, the broken wall, the burning roof and tower and Agamemnon. This three eggs represent the three opponents of the Trojan's war, Clytemnestra and Helen and the war-gods Castor and Polydeuces.
What I saw in this three poem is that they are connected with the Greek myths. It was appealing to see the way things were interpret in the past mainly in the Greek's culture.
This poem was really interesting to read. It was difficult for me to figure out what the author meant by sirens in the poem but when I looked up the information on Greek elements as the instructor said, I was able to break down what the author meant by that. I actually sirens are mythical figures whose enchanting voices lure sailors to their death. In this poem, Margaret Atwood uses sirens to draw a comparison between the myths and normal (modern) life. Men have always been victims of sirens in Greek myths the same way they are for women in the real life. So the role of the sirens in Greek myths is played in real life by women. In the Greek myths every man wants to hear the irresistible song sang by sirens the same way every man wants to have a woman in a real life.
The poem was interesting though because I could see the way Greek people interpret their myths.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “Ulysses
Honestly that was a hard story to analyze. Even with the help of the research of Greek elements I was not able to figure out what was this story about. It uses some weird words that I have never heard before and it makes the story really difficult to interpret.
But anyways all I did catch is that Ulysses was great King who married an aged woman. he became unsatisfied with his life as a king of Ithaca; I wonder how come a king be unsatisfied.
He fought the Trojans for years and tried to return home after the battle (I guess that is the main point of the story).He completed his journey back home but still felt like he wanted to get back to his life.
He felt like he is in duty with his country because he wanted to die as an hero instead of as a king.
William Butler Yeats’s “Leda and the Swan”
This poem is about a young lady called Leda who is being raped by a big bird (swan). According to the Geek myths, the God Zeus, now in form of a big swan t raped Leda. Actually he did because he wanted to finish with one are. In the end she hatched three eggs, the broken wall, the burning roof and tower and Agamemnon. This three eggs represent the three opponents of the Trojan's war, Clytemnestra and Helen and the war-gods Castor and Polydeuces.
What I saw in this three poem is that they are connected with the Greek myths. It was appealing to see the way things were interpret in the past mainly in the Greek's culture.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Mauricio Mbomio
Annotated Bibliographies
English 102 Section 066 Spring 2008
Instructor Anna Mikhalova
08 April 2008
CIVIL PEACE BY CHINUA ACHEBE
Uchendu, Egobi. “recollections of childhood experiences during the nigerian civil war”
Academic Search Premier 2007
http://web.ebscohost.compallas.2tcl.sc.edu/ehost/delivery
This article explains the way children were treated during and after the Nigerian civil war.
During the three years following the Nigerian civil war, little attention was given to the children of that West African country. The country was devastated by the civil war and folks just focused on how to end the situation and go back to their normal lives. The issue of taking care of children was underestimated and therefore anybody who grew up as a children in that period of time experienced crises in their childhood.
Since Jonathan has five children, I’m going to use the information I find in this article to see how Jonathan’s children experienced crises in their childhood and to identify what was the difference between children’s lives during and after the civil war.
How, Russell Worren. “Nigeria's Civil War.”
Academic Search Premier Sept 16, 1967.
https://pallas2.tcl.sc.edu/login?url=http
In this article Russell Worren cites the possible reasons that lead to the civil war in Nigeria. Before the Nigeria’s civil war there were several events that showed racial antagonism existing in many West African countries.
I will use information from this article to know the caused of the civil war in Nigeria and if possible identify one or more of its cultural aspect in the Nigerian society.
McKenna, Joseph C.” Elements of a Nigeria peace.”
Academic Search Premier. July 1969.
https://pallas2.tcl.sc.edu/login?url=http
This article enumerates the factors that should be considerate in negotiating a peace settlement in Nigeria. The Nigerian citizens felt obliged to seek for solutions to end the war. Many were the set of issues they had to face in order to put an end to the conflict. One of those issues was to convince one of the parties (either Gowon or Ojukwu to cease the fire.
This article will help me understand how people in Nigeria dealt with issue of their civil war and how they put an end to it. I will be able to know what factors put the war to an end and how they achieved it.
Home page. http://chinua-achebe.com/chenua-achebe-profile.htm.
This is the entire biography of the author of the Civil Peace, Chinua achebe. The home page described Achibe as Africa’s most Acclaim and fluent writer of the English language. It shows the influence the Nigeria’s civil war had in Achebe’s life and how it lead him write a short story about it.
Information found in this home page will be used to establish between the author and the period of time the civil war took place. I will also use it to keep track on the author’s background to notice some of the aspects that let him to write the story.
Feuser, Wilfried F. “Anomy and beyond. Nigeria's civil war in literature”
Historical Abstracts. 1984
The article discuss the impact of the Nigeria-Biafra war, 1967 -1970, on Nigeria literature and how literature of other countries illustrate the international impact of the war.
Many people believe that after the civil, the Nigeria literature changed dramatically. Because of the impact of the war, many others inclined they literary work to persuade people to achieve peace and get back to their lives. Many other authors around the continent wrote on the issue of international impact of the war.
I’m going to use information available in this article to establish the difference between the literature before and after war. Questions on how literature changes based on social events will also be answered.
Obiora Uzokwe, Alfred. “Surviving in Biafra. The Story of the Nigerian.” 2003
In this book, Uzokwe tells his own story as child survivor in the Biafra war.
In the book, Uzokwe narrates how it was like to be from the eastern side of Nigeria in those moments. He gives step by step details how the conflict began and how they started to move he and his family from the capital Lagos where they were settled to the eastern side where they belonged to.
By using information from this book I will compare the story told by Achenua and the one told by Uzokwe to verify the credibility of the story I’m writing about. Since Uzokwe is telling the story in first person and he is from the same area where the war took place, the two stories will have to have a lot in common even if one is about a survival soldier and the other is about survival child. But in overall these two people have something in common, they both survived a civil war therefore the two stories will have to match in one way or the other.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Mauricio Mbomio
Anna Mikhalova
English 102 section 066 Spring 2008
April 8, 2008
Extra Credit: Introduction to the Essay #3
The life after the civil war in Nigeria
The Nigerian civil war, unlike other wars across the international boundaries, was a war of unification, a war of reintegration. The effects of the civil war were eminent mainly in the region where it took place (the eastern side known commonly as Biafra.)
In this short story, Chinua Achebe described the most dramatic events that took place the years after the war. He narrates the life of a soldier who survived in the civil war conflict. As it known, the minds of people that have been in war never remain the same. The effects of the war are always fatal. Even if the war was over as it was declared on January 30, 1970, innocent people were still attacked by rebels to take their money away, there was still a potential danger for the civilians. The biggest task was not only reconstruct the areas devastated by the war and to put the country together as it was intended to, but also to change the people of the eastern side’s mindset.
Mauricio Mbomio
Instructor Anna Mikhalova
English 102 section 066 Spring 2008
April 8, 2008
TOPIC PROPOSAL FOR ESSAY #3
The short story I have chosen for essay 3 is Civil Peace by Chinua Achebe.
The short story is connected to the civil war in Nigeria in the late sixty’s. When I read a few articles about that civil war, I was able to know a lot of things that were not mentioned in the short story. For example, the articles helped me know what originated the war and what was one of it consequences. Also by searching the author’s background, I realized that he or part of his family might have been involved in the war conflict since he belongs to one of the tribes that were actively involved in the war. The theme of the work is a soldier (Jonathan) whose life, in my opinion, exemplifies the kind of life people lived the years after war. The war itself was over but people were still attacked by thieves and groups of bandits who wanted to take their money and possessions away and I guess those actions have to do a lot with the title of the story, Civil Peace. It looks like folks are used those actions because in the end it does not seem to bather Jonathan at all, instead, he said it was nothing for him because everything else had gone with the war as well.
Of course there are aspects of the poem that are not clear to me. For instance, the Biafran money, what role did it play during the war? Obviously people wanted to get rid of it for some reasons. Also my assumption about Jonathan’s life representing the way folks lived after war might not be credible if we consider that he was a soldier therefore, a potential target for thieves and rebels. So I would like to investigate the kind of life that normal people (not soldiers) lived after the civil war whether they were attacked as well.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
TRIFLES vs. A JURY OF HER PEERS:
I think the two version are talking about the same story. The first big difference I noticed is the form in which they both are written. Trifles is written in a way that you can draw pictures of the scenes, indicating what the speaker is doing when while they are talking which could lead to more understanding of the situation and therefore connect to some cultural/historical background(advantage). The jury of her peers written kind of in a full story form, with an introduction which gives you some glues of what is going to happen in the story
I really liked the play form and I do think that it can lead you to some cultural/historical background. See, the way the play is set up gives you evidence on how things look like in the scene. From the way the men criticize Mrs Wright's kitchen you can see that they implied she was not a good housekeeper which means that at that period of time women's job was keeping and keeping the house/kitchen messy at those moment was not part of the culture.
I think the two version are talking about the same story. The first big difference I noticed is the form in which they both are written. Trifles is written in a way that you can draw pictures of the scenes, indicating what the speaker is doing when while they are talking which could lead to more understanding of the situation and therefore connect to some cultural/historical background(advantage). The jury of her peers written kind of in a full story form, with an introduction which gives you some glues of what is going to happen in the story
I really liked the play form and I do think that it can lead you to some cultural/historical background. See, the way the play is set up gives you evidence on how things look like in the scene. From the way the men criticize Mrs Wright's kitchen you can see that they implied she was not a good housekeeper which means that at that period of time women's job was keeping and keeping the house/kitchen messy at those moment was not part of the culture.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Short story for cultural/historical analysis.
The short story I have chosen to analyze is Miss Brill by Katherine Mansfield.
The theme of the story is the loneliness of an old woman who got herself involved in a routine of outing to park every Sunday. This habit of visiting the park each Sunday help her to face the loneliness she was going through. She was happy with that and she did love it because she felt as if she was part of this world. But at the end she found herself not living but just watching how other people are living their lives. I t is revealed to her by a young couple who felt annoyed by the present of a the old lady while they wanted to make love or something.
The story was written in 1922 and I couldn't see any historical connection between the text and that period of time. Whether woman decided to be singles by choice or it was difficult to find a perfect match, is something that had to be mentioned in the story by the author. But I know is that she definitely did not want to be lonely because if she were, she wouldn't be escaping the loneliness and looking for spot where she could find herself doing something.
The story doesn't really mention something that people usually did in that period of time but from the text I am guessing that it was odd to be lonely. As the author mentions, almost all the people the old lady saw in the park were accompanied by their partners.
I do not have any cultural/historical clue about the story but what drew me special attention was the way the narrator described people and the way they were dressed(dreadful panama, velvet and lace...etc). I think those kind of special dresses had to something with the season or it might just be the way people dressed back in that period of time when attending special events.
If were said to do research, I would focus on those colored dresses and the way people got married in that era.
The short story I have chosen to analyze is Miss Brill by Katherine Mansfield.
The theme of the story is the loneliness of an old woman who got herself involved in a routine of outing to park every Sunday. This habit of visiting the park each Sunday help her to face the loneliness she was going through. She was happy with that and she did love it because she felt as if she was part of this world. But at the end she found herself not living but just watching how other people are living their lives. I t is revealed to her by a young couple who felt annoyed by the present of a the old lady while they wanted to make love or something.
The story was written in 1922 and I couldn't see any historical connection between the text and that period of time. Whether woman decided to be singles by choice or it was difficult to find a perfect match, is something that had to be mentioned in the story by the author. But I know is that she definitely did not want to be lonely because if she were, she wouldn't be escaping the loneliness and looking for spot where she could find herself doing something.
The story doesn't really mention something that people usually did in that period of time but from the text I am guessing that it was odd to be lonely. As the author mentions, almost all the people the old lady saw in the park were accompanied by their partners.
I do not have any cultural/historical clue about the story but what drew me special attention was the way the narrator described people and the way they were dressed(dreadful panama, velvet and lace...etc). I think those kind of special dresses had to something with the season or it might just be the way people dressed back in that period of time when attending special events.
If were said to do research, I would focus on those colored dresses and the way people got married in that era.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Jean Toomer’s “Becky”
The main theme of this poem is Becky and her two fatherless sons. Not quite sure what figure does Becky ans her sons represent in the story, but my instinct is telling me that she might represent an American prostitute or something.
The story is told by somebody else who as I believe does not live in that neighborhood but they are aware of Becky and how the community(back and white people) treat her.
The main theme of this poem is Becky and her two fatherless sons. Not quite sure what figure does Becky ans her sons represent in the story, but my instinct is telling me that she might represent an American prostitute or something.
The story is told by somebody else who as I believe does not live in that neighborhood but they are aware of Becky and how the community(back and white people) treat her.
Robin Hemley’s “The Holocaust Party”
I think the main theme of this poem is the holocaust that took place in Europe during world war II.
The story is told by a survivor of the holocaust therefore she is narrating base on her outlook.
The event took place in the period of time from 1941 to 1945 during which many people (specially Jews) were killed by the Nazi. Not sure when the story was written but from the lines we can see that the narrator has overcome the emotions and she can tell as if it were a normal story.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Jean Toomer’s “Becky” (CR 274-276)
I think the story is about a mad white woman who was isolated by the rest of the people because her madness. This practice was very common but still remain in some places around the world. When somebody becomes mad they usually do crazy things and they becomes dangerous. In advanced societies they usually take those people to asylums where they will have special treatments. But I guess in this particular town, there was just one mad woman so they decided to build her small tiny house near the railroad.
But there is a figure in the story that has not been revealed by the narrator either because it is not known or he wants to make the story more interesting:The guy who got the mad white woman pregnant. I didn't hear anything about that guy throughout the story. But I think he plays an important role in the mad woman's life. who ever he was I think that is a sign of being not responsible and not looking down for others. I'm sure he made her disappear as well so that she would not reveal his identity.
Claude McKay’s “America”
The speaker in the poem is appreciating what this America (America) has done to him. Even if the treatment was not fair as he said in his lines, he consider it as test of his youth. He really sounded like he was a slave to me then i remembered that back in time no slave could appreciate what they suffered.
“If We Must Die”
In this poem, the author is encouraging his men to stand up for themselves and not to give up. He claims that they must die with honor and if they do, even dead they will constrain the enemy to respect them.
This two poems give evidence that the author was either slave or a victim of racism because the fight here represents what he mentioned in the first poem as bitterness. So in order to test his youth he had to fight against oppressor. The cultured hell help him to unite his party and fight like one person.
I think the story is about a mad white woman who was isolated by the rest of the people because her madness. This practice was very common but still remain in some places around the world. When somebody becomes mad they usually do crazy things and they becomes dangerous. In advanced societies they usually take those people to asylums where they will have special treatments. But I guess in this particular town, there was just one mad woman so they decided to build her small tiny house near the railroad.
But there is a figure in the story that has not been revealed by the narrator either because it is not known or he wants to make the story more interesting:The guy who got the mad white woman pregnant. I didn't hear anything about that guy throughout the story. But I think he plays an important role in the mad woman's life. who ever he was I think that is a sign of being not responsible and not looking down for others. I'm sure he made her disappear as well so that she would not reveal his identity.
Claude McKay’s “America”
The speaker in the poem is appreciating what this America (America) has done to him. Even if the treatment was not fair as he said in his lines, he consider it as test of his youth. He really sounded like he was a slave to me then i remembered that back in time no slave could appreciate what they suffered.
“If We Must Die”
In this poem, the author is encouraging his men to stand up for themselves and not to give up. He claims that they must die with honor and if they do, even dead they will constrain the enemy to respect them.
This two poems give evidence that the author was either slave or a victim of racism because the fight here represents what he mentioned in the first poem as bitterness. So in order to test his youth he had to fight against oppressor. The cultured hell help him to unite his party and fight like one person.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
- Junot Díaz’s “How to Date a Browngirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie”
This story sounded kind of funny to me when I was reading it. But i came to realize that the whole point of the story was not about just the boy and the girl he was taking out. If we examine carefully some of the aspects the author was pointing out about the ethnicities and some of their behaviors, we will see that the story matches with what is rally happening in the real life. I don't know a lot about dating American girls or something but the story did not stray me from what I have heard about dating a sister, a white or a halfie American girl.
Maxine Hong Kingston’s “No Name Woman”
This whole story is about Chinese tradition. well, I don not have much to say here the story was somewhat interesting maybe for those who care about tradition. It is something that kept people blunt for a long time. But it is good to tell the new generations where we came from so that they can establish the difference between the past and the present moments.
The mother is telling the story to the daughter so that see can be aware of where the family is coming from and what they have overcome. For some reasons, she wants her to keep it secrete, I don't know why... The aunt's story was in my opinion the main point of the story. There might be something important about the aunt's story that the mother would like the daughter to know.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Randall Jarell
I think the main reason Randall is writing poems about war is because he was enlisted in the army therefore he had some experience about war and military. It is not surprised that he could write a poem like that... he was not pilot though I wonder why does he know a lot about aircraft and ball turred
I think the main reason Randall is writing poems about war is because he was enlisted in the army therefore he had some experience about war and military. It is not surprised that he could write a poem like that... he was not pilot though I wonder why does he know a lot about aircraft and ball turred
The word war means essentially fight between opposite parties.
war involves dangeur, blood shading, killing people, anger, crime.
colors: red, green,yellow,
Gunner simply means someone who uses guns to shoot.
Attack has to do something with invading or striking the anemy ini a war context.
World war II associates me with the period of hostility between many countries around the world 70 years ago, i'm not sure.
war involves dangeur, blood shading, killing people, anger, crime.
colors: red, green,yellow,
Gunner simply means someone who uses guns to shoot.
Attack has to do something with invading or striking the anemy ini a war context.
World war II associates me with the period of hostility between many countries around the world 70 years ago, i'm not sure.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
“The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner”
I really don't understand what this poem is about. The first two sentences seem to be talking about a pregnant woman or something, then it goes on talking about flak and fighters, which is kind of a war or military thing and I am completely lost from there.
I really don't understand what this poem is about. The first two sentences seem to be talking about a pregnant woman or something, then it goes on talking about flak and fighters, which is kind of a war or military thing and I am completely lost from there.
Well, after we saw the footage of the poem, I have a different view to the poem and now I understand what it is about. It is about a soldier inside the aircraft in small spot called Ball Turret. They are at war and he is in charge of using the Ball Turred. It's freezing in there and he is not really comfortable because the Ball Turred is spinning.
"Holocaust Party"
The story is really interesting not only because it is vivid but because I have to pay attention close attention to the narrator's pauses. I was kind of lost at the first glance because I did not quite follow Mrs Isabel's present sentences throughout the story.
But there are two things that really drew my close attention to the story: The awkard moments experienced in the dinning room by Joel when he met the family, and the attitude of Mr Roger.
I really don't appreciate being around strangers, it makes me feel uncomfortable and nervous.
Mr Roger's attitude seems not to be appropriate. He is acting as if he were not happy either with the guests or with the story Mrs Isabel is telling.
But the story was interesting and I would like to read this full story of the invasion of German in Belgium.
The story is really interesting not only because it is vivid but because I have to pay attention close attention to the narrator's pauses. I was kind of lost at the first glance because I did not quite follow Mrs Isabel's present sentences throughout the story.
But there are two things that really drew my close attention to the story: The awkard moments experienced in the dinning room by Joel when he met the family, and the attitude of Mr Roger.
I really don't appreciate being around strangers, it makes me feel uncomfortable and nervous.
Mr Roger's attitude seems not to be appropriate. He is acting as if he were not happy either with the guests or with the story Mrs Isabel is telling.
But the story was interesting and I would like to read this full story of the invasion of German in Belgium.
“Turning Out with a Focus on Historicism” and “Turning Out with a Focus on New Historicism”
I am not fond of history/literature, but this reading shows one more time that history is very important to human beings not only because of the fact that it reflects the evolution of societies but also because it lets us take a different look at what is going on in this world.
It is very important to know that all human activities are defined by the history and those activities change as time and place change as well. But what is more important is that history can be different depends on who is writing it,what they want to focus on and the amount of information they have available, not to mention the argument and evidence they should give to support they claims in order to persuade the readers.
What was really more important about the reading are the two terms Historicism and new Historicism. Actually this two terms are new to me but they are important and meaningful because they show us how concepts and event change through the time. They reflect how people have changed their views about history.
It is clear that they might be spelled the same way but as the author said, they are opposite.
I personally think that new criticism is deeper because it looks to me like it goes beyond the literature and not just focus on the historical accuracy of the text.
I am not fond of history/literature, but this reading shows one more time that history is very important to human beings not only because of the fact that it reflects the evolution of societies but also because it lets us take a different look at what is going on in this world.
It is very important to know that all human activities are defined by the history and those activities change as time and place change as well. But what is more important is that history can be different depends on who is writing it,what they want to focus on and the amount of information they have available, not to mention the argument and evidence they should give to support they claims in order to persuade the readers.
What was really more important about the reading are the two terms Historicism and new Historicism. Actually this two terms are new to me but they are important and meaningful because they show us how concepts and event change through the time. They reflect how people have changed their views about history.
It is clear that they might be spelled the same way but as the author said, they are opposite.
I personally think that new criticism is deeper because it looks to me like it goes beyond the literature and not just focus on the historical accuracy of the text.
Monday, March 17, 2008
“Cultural/Historical Inventory”
This reading was really informative and yet realist to me. It is right that our culture and our past make us what and who we are today. When I was young I did not realize that where I live is part of my life. It is a certain true that we are influenced by our families but also by the people that surround us. It is said that the past is the key of the future. The history is very important because it teaches us the past and it keeps us from making the same mistakes we made in the past. I think without history the whole world would not be achieving all the success it achieving now.
Strategies.
All these poems were really sad and interesting. This whole war thing has not been welcomed in this world. Soldiers never like war. They are human beings and I believe that they feel something about killing or get killed.
Many young people join the army today just because they wanna make some money, others because it is said that by joining the army you will better serve your country. But it has turned out that joining the army is not all about making money or liking your country, now is about killing or get killed. We have lost a lot of our friends in Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc. Today most people like me are allergic to the word army but it doesn't have to be that way. In my opinion I think we should start voting for leaders who can solve their differences with other countries in a peaceful way. Even if I believe that those who fought in war war I had good reasons to fight, I guess if there were people who want peace, they would have achieved it. But back in time everyone wanted to show their belligerent potential, there was nobody to make the hostility stop so that they could avoid the death of thousands of thousands of people. It looks to me like today's leaders(some of them) are still living in the 20's or something and trying to fight for any little conflict, They are not making the difference. We should show that the world has grown up and we are not living in the 20's anymore.
This reading was really informative and yet realist to me. It is right that our culture and our past make us what and who we are today. When I was young I did not realize that where I live is part of my life. It is a certain true that we are influenced by our families but also by the people that surround us. It is said that the past is the key of the future. The history is very important because it teaches us the past and it keeps us from making the same mistakes we made in the past. I think without history the whole world would not be achieving all the success it achieving now.
Strategies.
All these poems were really sad and interesting. This whole war thing has not been welcomed in this world. Soldiers never like war. They are human beings and I believe that they feel something about killing or get killed.
Many young people join the army today just because they wanna make some money, others because it is said that by joining the army you will better serve your country. But it has turned out that joining the army is not all about making money or liking your country, now is about killing or get killed. We have lost a lot of our friends in Afghanistan, Kuwait, etc. Today most people like me are allergic to the word army but it doesn't have to be that way. In my opinion I think we should start voting for leaders who can solve their differences with other countries in a peaceful way. Even if I believe that those who fought in war war I had good reasons to fight, I guess if there were people who want peace, they would have achieved it. But back in time everyone wanted to show their belligerent potential, there was nobody to make the hostility stop so that they could avoid the death of thousands of thousands of people. It looks to me like today's leaders(some of them) are still living in the 20's or something and trying to fight for any little conflict, They are not making the difference. We should show that the world has grown up and we are not living in the 20's anymore.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Free Writing about my Poster
One of the reasons I made this poster for is because I'm really concerned about this models and supermodel thing in Holliwood. Most girls(models and supermodel) are taking that concept too far away. A model is defined as small object built in scale that represents in detail another. But the concept is taking beyond proportions by many supermodels. They definately have to look good and sexy but not like skeleton. So I wanted people to be aware that a supermodel is somebody who gives a good image to what they represent.
One of the reasons I made this poster for is because I'm really concerned about this models and supermodel thing in Holliwood. Most girls(models and supermodel) are taking that concept too far away. A model is defined as small object built in scale that represents in detail another. But the concept is taking beyond proportions by many supermodels. They definately have to look good and sexy but not like skeleton. So I wanted people to be aware that a supermodel is somebody who gives a good image to what they represent.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Mauricio Mbomio
Topic Proposal for Essay #2
Instructor Anna Mikhalova
English 102 Section 066 Spring 2007
When you take a close look at my wrist watch, you can see that it is not just a time provider, it has some additional features that make it more interesting and different from other ordinary watches: It can provide the days of the week in two languages, Spanish and English. This and other characteristics make my wrist watch differ from other watches.
One of the crucial analysis for this essay will include my wrist watch’s black leather strap, the internal lights (not really internal lights but it allows you to see the time even in darker places) and the fact that I can read the days of the week in my own language.
The way the watch is designed clearly implies that it can be used for different proposes, including elegancy. But in overall the watch is intended to be used by middle age people. Because of its size and style, I do not think aged people would feel comfortable wearing a big black wrist watch.
This essay will argue that wrist watches cannot only be used as time provider. They can also be used as objects of elegancy among middle age people.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
FREE WRITING.
write about a poster or an advertisement that made you think differently.
I do not truely believe in advertisements because they are just a way to persuade people to buy their products. So advertisements never changed the way I looked at things. I have my own perspective when it comes to make decisions about what is good and what is bad for. Therefore I do not need anybody to persuade me to buy or be aware of something. But I'm not saying that advertisements are not important or they don't play an important role in the society all I just say is I always think on m own when it comes to judge what is good and what is bad.
write about a poster or an advertisement that made you think differently.
I do not truely believe in advertisements because they are just a way to persuade people to buy their products. So advertisements never changed the way I looked at things. I have my own perspective when it comes to make decisions about what is good and what is bad for. Therefore I do not need anybody to persuade me to buy or be aware of something. But I'm not saying that advertisements are not important or they don't play an important role in the society all I just say is I always think on m own when it comes to judge what is good and what is bad.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Reading The Politics of Design.
Actually I do not really pay attention to the designing part of an object. I can say I am one of those people who just use items because they need to be used. For instance, when I bought my computer I did not pay too much attention to the designing and the appearance. I went to store I saw what I needed and I purchased it. If I were the only one who uses computers and manufactured products, I would say that designers don't have to bother themselves on changing the style and quality of the products they manufacture.
But since everybody uses those manufactured items, designers have to be aware of the need of doing more than using good methods to to produce usable items. Questions like who will use the product, what are the goals of the user of the product, under what conditions should the product be used,... etc, must me present in a mind of a designer.
I completely agree with Jeffry Keedy on that "everything today is somehow connected to commerce. The reason behind that is everybody wants to make money, it doesn't matter in which way. That fact is turning everybody into dealers and traders( always trying to gain something back from whatever we do).
On the other hand, we all know that advertising plays an important role in today's societies, both economically and socially, and its effects can be felt immediately and over time. But because it is a competition, many advertisers are focused on stimulating the consumers rather than improving the quality of their products. Keedy establishes what used to be the difference between design and advertisement. Today we have them all mixed up. because today's adds are intended to persuade and intrude rather than inform compel.
Actually I do not really pay attention to the designing part of an object. I can say I am one of those people who just use items because they need to be used. For instance, when I bought my computer I did not pay too much attention to the designing and the appearance. I went to store I saw what I needed and I purchased it. If I were the only one who uses computers and manufactured products, I would say that designers don't have to bother themselves on changing the style and quality of the products they manufacture.
But since everybody uses those manufactured items, designers have to be aware of the need of doing more than using good methods to to produce usable items. Questions like who will use the product, what are the goals of the user of the product, under what conditions should the product be used,... etc, must me present in a mind of a designer.
I completely agree with Jeffry Keedy on that "everything today is somehow connected to commerce. The reason behind that is everybody wants to make money, it doesn't matter in which way. That fact is turning everybody into dealers and traders( always trying to gain something back from whatever we do).
On the other hand, we all know that advertising plays an important role in today's societies, both economically and socially, and its effects can be felt immediately and over time. But because it is a competition, many advertisers are focused on stimulating the consumers rather than improving the quality of their products. Keedy establishes what used to be the difference between design and advertisement. Today we have them all mixed up. because today's adds are intended to persuade and intrude rather than inform compel.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Free writing
PC or MAC what do you like the most?
what I use the most is my PC. What I like about it is its performence and its design. Its capacity of storing mega amount of work helps keep my files and not have to worry about USB. I think the manufacturer designed it for those proposes because they are other PC that can't store that amount of work.The software it contains are modern softwares and they make it easy to work with.
PC or MAC what do you like the most?
what I use the most is my PC. What I like about it is its performence and its design. Its capacity of storing mega amount of work helps keep my files and not have to worry about USB. I think the manufacturer designed it for those proposes because they are other PC that can't store that amount of work.The software it contains are modern softwares and they make it easy to work with.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Free Writing
One of the quotes I remember is " Life is not the moments you take a breath but the moments that take your breath away" The name of the movie is HITCH by Will Smith.
The reason I remember this quote is that I have had one of those moments in my life where my breath goes away and I don't know what to do.
One of the quotes I remember is " Life is not the moments you take a breath but the moments that take your breath away" The name of the movie is HITCH by Will Smith.
The reason I remember this quote is that I have had one of those moments in my life where my breath goes away and I don't know what to do.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Introduction
Return Baggage
We all know that death is a natural phenomenon and nobody is immune to that natural phenomenon. We also know that before someone dies they have to grow up, live their life, fall sick and then die in a natural manner. It does not truly mean that we are ruling out the fact that people can die from accidents or whatever but the dead of children and yet innocent people does not have words to be explained. The author in this poem thinks of if as a tragedy and throughout this paper we will focus on the fact that young children should not die. We can even go a little bit further exploring the facts and evidence that can support our claim. Life is beautiful and we all have the right to live it and enjoy it. But most of the time those sudden deaths lack explanation and the author here is doing the best he can to explain the tragedy that affects the entire planet.
Return Baggage
We all know that death is a natural phenomenon and nobody is immune to that natural phenomenon. We also know that before someone dies they have to grow up, live their life, fall sick and then die in a natural manner. It does not truly mean that we are ruling out the fact that people can die from accidents or whatever but the dead of children and yet innocent people does not have words to be explained. The author in this poem thinks of if as a tragedy and throughout this paper we will focus on the fact that young children should not die. We can even go a little bit further exploring the facts and evidence that can support our claim. Life is beautiful and we all have the right to live it and enjoy it. But most of the time those sudden deaths lack explanation and the author here is doing the best he can to explain the tragedy that affects the entire planet.
Mauricio Mbomio
Topic proposal for Assay #1
Instructor Anna Mikhalova
English 102 Section 066
The text that I have chosen for my writing assignment is “The Return Baggage” by Wislawa Szymborska. The main claim or main idea of the poem is the dead of children or Young people. The autor is focusing on the fact that Young people do not last longer in this life as adult people do.
The passgae that I have identified as compelling is the one that start from the third paragraph to the fourth one. There is lot to say about that passage because I think it has if nota ll, part of the central theme of the poem and through it one can suspect that tha auto is definitely complaining about about those Young and yet innocent children cease living at their Young age.
There are a lot of gramar examples in this poem. The author uses a lot of commas and puntuation throughout the poem. There are also hyphen marks (-) throughout the poem. The is only alliteration in the second half of the poem ( this, that, those). The title of the poem its self is a figure of speech (metephore) because baggage here means children. The author also uses hyperbole (a fistful of air, a spoonful of bitter knowledge) in the third paragraph.
The present passage does not have significant instantces of rhyme nor rhythm however there is an alliteration in the fourth paragraph and it does not seem to have anu significant effect. The words in this poem express grief and sorrow because the author is lamenting the death of children therefore the tone here is melancholic. There are no simboles in the passage and I am not quiet sure what images means here but the passage seems not to have one. The feature identified in four and five, contribute to the overall understanding of the passage. The author, by using all theses features he gives a different impression about the passage and they make you have an idea about how he feels when talking about the complex topic of death of children.
Thesis.
This assay will argue that everybody has the chance to live life after they are born. Young children do not have any reason to die after they are born. Illnesses, wars, hunger, ect do not need to affect any children’s life. The whole world is concerned about the issue and I think that when the author is writing poem here it is a good way for him to warn us one more time and prompts us to do something about it.
Topic proposal for Assay #1
Instructor Anna Mikhalova
English 102 Section 066
The text that I have chosen for my writing assignment is “The Return Baggage” by Wislawa Szymborska. The main claim or main idea of the poem is the dead of children or Young people. The autor is focusing on the fact that Young people do not last longer in this life as adult people do.
The passgae that I have identified as compelling is the one that start from the third paragraph to the fourth one. There is lot to say about that passage because I think it has if nota ll, part of the central theme of the poem and through it one can suspect that tha auto is definitely complaining about about those Young and yet innocent children cease living at their Young age.
There are a lot of gramar examples in this poem. The author uses a lot of commas and puntuation throughout the poem. There are also hyphen marks (-) throughout the poem. The is only alliteration in the second half of the poem ( this, that, those). The title of the poem its self is a figure of speech (metephore) because baggage here means children. The author also uses hyperbole (a fistful of air, a spoonful of bitter knowledge) in the third paragraph.
The present passage does not have significant instantces of rhyme nor rhythm however there is an alliteration in the fourth paragraph and it does not seem to have anu significant effect. The words in this poem express grief and sorrow because the author is lamenting the death of children therefore the tone here is melancholic. There are no simboles in the passage and I am not quiet sure what images means here but the passage seems not to have one. The feature identified in four and five, contribute to the overall understanding of the passage. The author, by using all theses features he gives a different impression about the passage and they make you have an idea about how he feels when talking about the complex topic of death of children.
Thesis.
This assay will argue that everybody has the chance to live life after they are born. Young children do not have any reason to die after they are born. Illnesses, wars, hunger, ect do not need to affect any children’s life. The whole world is concerned about the issue and I think that when the author is writing poem here it is a good way for him to warn us one more time and prompts us to do something about it.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
SONNY'S BLUES
First of all this poem is a sad one so there is nothing funny in there. The narrator is always talking about death, sadness and pain so there is not much to laugh or smile at here, at least in my opinion.
I read through the poem and I couldn't find any words that can cause laugh or smile. The author spends a lot of time talking about how members of his family are suffering and dying so there is not happy moment in there.
I read through the poem and I couldn't find any words that can cause laugh or smile. The author spends a lot of time talking about how members of his family are suffering and dying so there is not happy moment in there.
Character
You're a girl
and you'd better not forget
that when you step over the threshold of your house
men will look askance at you.
When you keep on walking down the lane
men will follow you and whistle.
When you cross the lane and step onto the main road
men will revile you and call you a looser woman.
if you've got no character
you'll turn back,
and if not
you'll keep going
as you are going now.
2) I had a very strong reaction to this poem when I first read it. I thought that maybe it was a husband talking to a wife but when I read carefully i noticed that it might be a mother talking to her daughter. The words are exactly those of a mother to their child.
3) The mother is giving a peace of advise to her daughter on how to be a strong woman. She is telling her to be on her way and don't pay too much attention to what men are doing or saying.
4) The narrator or speaker is the mother. She is speaking to her daughter.
The speaker is old, experienced and the listener is just a new comer in life and need to be taught some lessons.
5) The them to these poem for me should be " A MODERN GIRL" and the poem itself is just a peace of advise for young women out there.
The reason I'm saying it is that a modern girl should exactly follow what the words of this poem are saying Be careful when you walk on the street, be on your own way and do not matter what men say, etc.
and you'd better not forget
that when you step over the threshold of your house
men will look askance at you.
When you keep on walking down the lane
men will follow you and whistle.
When you cross the lane and step onto the main road
men will revile you and call you a looser woman.
if you've got no character
you'll turn back,
and if not
you'll keep going
as you are going now.
2) I had a very strong reaction to this poem when I first read it. I thought that maybe it was a husband talking to a wife but when I read carefully i noticed that it might be a mother talking to her daughter. The words are exactly those of a mother to their child.
3) The mother is giving a peace of advise to her daughter on how to be a strong woman. She is telling her to be on her way and don't pay too much attention to what men are doing or saying.
4) The narrator or speaker is the mother. She is speaking to her daughter.
The speaker is old, experienced and the listener is just a new comer in life and need to be taught some lessons.
5) The them to these poem for me should be " A MODERN GIRL" and the poem itself is just a peace of advise for young women out there.
The reason I'm saying it is that a modern girl should exactly follow what the words of this poem are saying Be careful when you walk on the street, be on your own way and do not matter what men say, etc.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Close reading
1)Close reading is a type of reading in which you pay close attention to the text you are reading. Concentration and focus are very important in a close reading.
3)Pastoral._ Anything related to pastor.
Dictionary def._Of or relating to shepherds or herders
4)Mistress._ Is formal name given to some particular young ladies.
Dictionary def._
A woman who has a continuing sexual relationship with a usually married man who is not her husband and from whom she generally receives material support.
5)Nymph._ name given by protagonist young lady in a poem, novel, etc.
Dictionary def._Any of numerous minor deities represented as beautiful maidens inhabiting and sometimes personifying features of nature such as trees, waters, and mountains.
3)Pastoral._ Anything related to pastor.
Dictionary def._Of or relating to shepherds or herders
4)Mistress._ Is formal name given to some particular young ladies.
Dictionary def._
A woman who has a continuing sexual relationship with a usually married man who is not her husband and from whom she generally receives material support.
5)Nymph._ name given by protagonist young lady in a poem, novel, etc.
Dictionary def._Any of numerous minor deities represented as beautiful maidens inhabiting and sometimes personifying features of nature such as trees, waters, and mountains.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Questions
1)I would like to know in the Nymph's response to the shepherd, why is she saying "and And truth in every shepherd's tongue? Does she think that the shepherd is not telling the truth? or it just means something else
2) what fact is the "universe" referring to when it says " the fact hasn't created in me a sense of obligation"?
3) what bitter refers to in the poem In the Desert?
2) what fact is the "universe" referring to when it says " the fact hasn't created in me a sense of obligation"?
3) what bitter refers to in the poem In the Desert?
Comments On the poems The Passionate Shepherd to His love and The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd.
These two poems are related simply because one is the reply of the other. However as we can see, words and phrases( break, wither, forgotten, etc) used in two of them do not fit the standards requirements used in these types of poem. But they do make sense in this particular case because the young lady is not accepting the shepherd’s love therefore she is using not adequate words for this type of poems.
But anyways both the request and the answer are interesting and I personally enjoyed reading them
Comments on the poems In the Desert and A Man Said to the Universe.
This two poems brought me special attention because they look to me like they are related oppositely some manner.
The name desert implies emptiness, no lives. But in contrast, the universe means everything that surrounds us, in fact lives. So there most be some kind of contrast between the two poems. However I want to focus my comments on the In the Desert poem.
Besides, the In the Desert poem is contrast with itself because we don't usually find living creatures in the desert but in its case someone saw a naked, bestial creature.....
I think this poem has to do something with our own lives. There are moments in which we find holes or emptiness in our lives, no matter what circumstances we have to like it and accept it because is part of us no matter how bitter, rough the moments can be.
I personally think that the naked creature implies someone with problems in their lives.
The poem is very challenging though because many names that do not convey their real denotation are used in it.
I strongly admire the author's creativeness and skill to to relate too many different conceptual words in a single work like this.
The name desert implies emptiness, no lives. But in contrast, the universe means everything that surrounds us, in fact lives. So there most be some kind of contrast between the two poems. However I want to focus my comments on the In the Desert poem.
Besides, the In the Desert poem is contrast with itself because we don't usually find living creatures in the desert but in its case someone saw a naked, bestial creature.....
I think this poem has to do something with our own lives. There are moments in which we find holes or emptiness in our lives, no matter what circumstances we have to like it and accept it because is part of us no matter how bitter, rough the moments can be.
I personally think that the naked creature implies someone with problems in their lives.
The poem is very challenging though because many names that do not convey their real denotation are used in it.
I strongly admire the author's creativeness and skill to to relate too many different conceptual words in a single work like this.
Practice 6-E Strategies p. 135
The word grandmother means simply the mother of your mother. But most of the time or according to my experience, we use this name to address to any older woman.
The word grandmother has a positive connotation. It always implies love and affection.
The word grandmother has a positive connotation. It always implies love and affection.
Practice 6-D page 134( strategies) jan 24
In Black ELVIS, the names Right Guard and birds( my "my mind was like a bird") are metaphoric.
There is no connection between this character and the real real name they represent. We cant either establish a connection between this character and the theme of the story.
Right Guards in the story means something that will take the young boy's strong smell away from his underarm.
"My mind was like a bird", it means the mind wasn't settled down. It was in continues moving or flying like a bird.
For these particular cases, there is no patterns emerging that might hint to the theme of the story.
There is no connection between this character and the real real name they represent. We cant either establish a connection between this character and the theme of the story.
Right Guards in the story means something that will take the young boy's strong smell away from his underarm.
"My mind was like a bird", it means the mind wasn't settled down. It was in continues moving or flying like a bird.
For these particular cases, there is no patterns emerging that might hint to the theme of the story.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
questions for the homework due on tuesday jan 22
1) Examples of texts can include articles, poems, letters, novels, magazines, etc
2) Dip into it.
3) Focal point of a text is a word or group of words that tell the readers what the text is about.
4) Genre is a particular type of art, writing or music with some features that all examples of this type share.
5) Examining the convention of a text helps you understand the nature of the text so that it can be easily handled.
2) Dip into it.
3) Focal point of a text is a word or group of words that tell the readers what the text is about.
4) Genre is a particular type of art, writing or music with some features that all examples of this type share.
5) Examining the convention of a text helps you understand the nature of the text so that it can be easily handled.
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