Tony Harrison's "Cold Coming"

In this short story/poem the author uses birth in the form of storing semen and death in the form of soldiers and Iraqi's dying or, to the point of death, during the war.

The author focuses on sperm banking to portray the violence of war. The fact that so many soldiers banked their sperm while in the war tells you they don't plan on coming out of the war alive.

The Iraqi is taken to a poet because a poet can 'pretend that the man wants his foe to be his friend.'

Free Write 4/17/08

A Lion is a fierce animal mostly known for living in Africa. It has an orangish fur and a mane around its neck. A lion is a male.

A Lioness is a female lion without a mane around its neck and it has short fur around its body. They usually appear skinnier than a Lion, mostly because of the fur.

Comparison- In the reaction that we read to the story "She unnames them" she takes the whole story as talking about generalizations. The example she gives is, boys like cars. I didn't think about generalizations at all when reading the story.

Homework 4/17/08

"She Unnames Them"-
This story is about a women most likely Eve who unnames the animals and sets them free. I found it to be very confusing, especially when she was speaking to Adam. she refers to the ability to give or unname? is a gift to her. I'm not sure about the last sentence but it seems that she is preparing herself to talk to God. It sort of twists the whole story for me.


"Magi"-
The journey of the Magi is about the Magi's journey through the worst time of the year. "The very dead winter." The author writes about the hostility of the cities and dirty villages. These descriptions give the idea that the journey was not a pleasant one.


"A Cold Coming"- I found this story to be disturbing, it was just akward. From the title i thought it was going to be a response to the journey of Magi, because the first line of the Magi is "A cold coming we had of it."

Homework 4/10/08

"Siren Song"- This poem is about a women's cry for help and her ability to force me to try to help her even though they see that everyone else has failed.

"Ulysses"- This poem is about Ulysses, a hero of the trojan war. In this poem Ulysses looks back at his life and the things he honors about it and the things he questions. The poem talks about Ulysses' strive to never stop.

"Leda and the Swan"- this poem is about the god Zeus taking form of the Swan to have his way with Leda, the Spartan queen. She had to daughters, Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's unfaithful wife, and Helen of Troy. Agamemnon dies in a war which ties to the darkness of the two children she created as a result of her being raped.

Topic Proposal

Brad Dimock
ENGL. 102-066
April 7, 2008
SWA #10: Topic Proposal Historical/Cultural Analysis

1.) Civil Peace by: Chinua Achebe
2.) The historical/cultural connection I have found to the short story is the Nigerian Civil War during 1967-1970.
3.) The Link between Civil Peace and the Nigerian Civil War help me understand the reason behind the currencies mentioned throughout the story, based on the information I found on the economic changes made by the Nigerian government during the civil war. The connection also helped me understand the horrific situation the family in the story was in, based on the turmoil resulting from the war. The information on the author Chinua Achebe helped me establish the credibility of the short story and also helped me understand the reason for his interest in the Nigerian Civil War. Chinua Achebe lived through the Nigerian Civil war and worked for the Biafran government.
4.) The theme of this story is the struggles and turmoil the family faces during the end of the Nigerian Civil War. The information I found that about three million people died during the civil war mostly from starvation and disease helps me to understand the theme of the short story.
5.) The part I believe I still need to find is anything on thieves harassing and robbing Nigerian families in the aftermath of the war.
Thesis Statement: The events and aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War during 1967-1970 shape the meaning behind the short story “Civil Peace.” The historical ties to the change of currencies, turmoil of the war, and the string of events during the war all shape and provide understanding to the meanings behind the short story.

Annotated bibliography

Brad Dimock
ENGL. 102-066
April 7, 2008
SWA #8 & 9: Annotated Bibliography

Atofarati, Abubakar A. “The Nigerian Civil War, Causes, Strategies, And Lessons Learnt.” African Master Web (1992). 7 April 2008 .
The Nigerian Civil War, Causes, Strategies, And Lessons Learnt, provides information on how the war was started, the history of Nigeria, as well as many details on the Military aspects of the war. The information I have obtained from this article is that the war was between the “Eastern Region” of Nigeria and the rest of the country. The Eastern Region declared itself an independent state which was seen by the Nigerian Government as an act of succession. This information is important to me to learn the details behind why the civil war started.

“Chinua Achebe.” kirjasto.sci.fi (2002). 7 April 2008 .
Chinua Achebe, is a biography on the life of Chinua Achebe and his accomplishments. The information I have gathered from this article is that Achebe was in the Biafran government service during the time of the Nigerian Civil War. In 1967 Achebe cofounded a publishing company at Emgu with his friend who was killed during the Nigerian Civil War. The information in this article is very helpful for my essay. It helps me establish credibility of the essay and helps me to better understand the background of the essay.

“Nigerian Civil War.” Wikipedia (29 March 2008). 7 April 2008 .
This article, Nigerian Civil War, gives a complete description on the Civil War. From what caused the civil war to every military aspect during the civil war. The important information gathered from this article for the purpose of my essay is that the war began in 1967 when the Nigerian Government took action to retake the secessionist territory. Biafran forces responded with an offensive attack but surrendered in 1970 which ended the war. About 3 million people were estimated to have died from the conflict, mostly from hunger and disease. The Nigerian Government changed its currency during the war so that Biafran supplies of pre-war Nigerian currency were no longer honored. This information helps me grasp how and when the Nigerian War started as well as the toll it had on Nigeria and its citizens and the currency issue helps me understand the reason why money and the different currencies were talked about in the story.

“Nigeria.” Information Please (2008). 7 April 2008 .
The article, Nigeria, provides information on the Geography, Government, History, and demographics on Nigeria. From this article I have gathered that 40 percent of Nigeria consists of Christians and that Muslin Hausas in the North massacred the predominately Christian Ibos in the east. Ibos took refuge in the east and declared independence as the republic of Biafria. This information is important to my essay because it helps me understand the meaning behind the phrase “Nothing puzzles God,” seen throughout the story. It also helps me understand why the Eastern Region of Nigeria succeeded.

“The Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Global Literacy Project Inc. 7 April 2008 .
The Federal Republic of Nigeria article, discussed the economy, demographics, government, and literature. The information most important to me from this article is about the economy. In 1966, the Nigerian Military took over the government which led to the collapse in the Nigerian economy. This information might help me realize the importance of the different currencies throughout the story.

Uche, Chibuike. “Money Matters in a War Economy: The Biafran Experience.” EBSCOhost. 7 April 2008 .
Money Matters in a War Economy: The Biafran Experience, is an article on the Economy aspects of the Nigerian Civil War. The information I found that is most helpful for my essay is that in 1970 the government instructed all holders of Biafran currency and old Nigerian currency to register and deposit such currencies with government designated agents. The government paid a flat rate 20 pounds in exchange. This information helps me realize the importance of the currency talked about throughout the essay and about the 20 pounds the man received in exchange for her rebel money.

Introduction to Historical/Cultural Analysis

Introduction:
The short story Civil Peace by Chinua Achebe is about the struggles and turmoil one family faces during the time period of the Nigerian Civil War. From the death of one of their sons during the war to the struggle to support his family during the economic mishaps
to the theives they faced attempting to rob them of the only money they had, this family was affected extremely by the Nigerian Civil War. The events and aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War during 1967-1970 shape the meaning behind the short story “Civil Peace.” The historical ties to the change of currencies, turmoil of the war, and the string of events during the war all shape and provide understanding to the struggles the family faced.

Trifles vs A Jury of Her Peers

SWA #7:
Trifles vs. A Jury of Her Peers

After reading the two versions of Glaspell’s story I conclude that the short story form overall is easier to follow and understand. While the play version helps to portray the setting of the events, the short story form helps you comprehend the events without having to jump between who is saying what. The play form is very scattered; it jumps from person to person every other sentence, while the short story form ties the dialogue into the narration of the story smoothly. The short story was also easier to read because you did not have to keep reminding yourself who was saying which line. As far as which form lent itself more easily to cultural/historical analysis, the short story form did. Because the stories events flowed more easily it was easier to understand what was happening, which made it easier to determine the cultural ties. The choppy play form discourages any cultural/historical analysis because it is simply hard to tie every aspect together; the short story form ties everything together for you. You could easily determine that the story took place around 1916 through the short story. While the play form gives the setting it is not as easily determinable through the events as it is through the short story form. In the short story form you can easily analyze the time period it occurred in through the layout of events such as the sewing and the neighborly farm culture. Also, while it is only slightly hinted to you can determine the culture and historical ties through the fact that the women were treated unfairly. This is hinted to when the bird is discovered and the ladies talk about how he killed the old lady’s singing. To conclude, the short story form has more advantages than disadvantages comparing it to the play form. The cultural/historical analysis is easier to obtain and the events are easier to follow.

Homework 04/01/08

Civil Peace:

The story I am considering for my Cultural/Historical analysis is Civil Peace by Chinua Achebe. The story takes place in Nigeria when they were coming out of a civil war. The theme is about the struggles and cultural changes the family encounters during their hard times at the wars end. The thing that keeps them going is that "Nothing puzzles God."
The Civil war in Nigeria is not familiar to be. I would do some heavy research on the war to try to determine the significant historical ties. The only clues that are given are of the currencies being used and how terrified they were when they heard knocking at their door. The clue that gives the historical setting is that he people knocking on their door said, "War done finish... No civil war again." The keywords I would use in my research would be Nigerian Civil war 1970.

Homework 03/26/08

No Name Women: The main theme of this story is that women in China back during the times around 1924 were treated very poorly.

The setting takes place in America, in the girls home. The main setting is that it The point of view of this story is from the little girl. She talks about her aunt that she has never met. The girls point of view is key because she is trying to figure out her aunt's past because she is becoming the age her aunt was when she had the baby.

Becky: The main theme of this story is that even though there are two involved in having children the women is always the one who suffers.

The setting of the story is in a small town back in the 1920's at a house along the railroad tracks and at a church. The fact that it takes place in the 1920's ties in the idea about how women were treated unfairly.

Homework 03/25/08

"How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie" : This short story is about how to date every type of girl and what to expect. The short story goes into explicit details and pretty detailed explanation on what to do in every possible situation that might happen with a whitegirl, browngirl, blackgirl, or halfie.

"No Name Women" : This short story is about a women who cheats on her husband in the beginning, while her husband has been away for years. The rest of the village comes to her house when it is time for her to have the baby and throw rocks and eggs and slaughter their livestock. The rest is about her adultery act and the wrongfulness of it.

"Becky" : This story is about a white women who had to black sons. Its about the hatred she received because she had two black sons.

"If We Must Die" :This poem is about death. It's about being able to fight back when you die. Dying a noble worthy death.

"America" : This poem is about the goods and bads of American culture. "America feeds me bread of bitterness," while the America does feed them, not so much literally, what they receive is bitter.

Free Write 03/20/08

A:
War: the colors I think of when I think of war are dark colors and orangish red colors.
the sounds I hear are huge bombs exploding or gunfire constantly going off. I hear people yelling out commands and sometimes there would be silence. I see men crawling on the ground toward the enemy and planes flying overhead attacking their targets.

Gunner: the colors I picture when I think of a gunner are Camo colors and bursts of orangish red. The sounds I hear are many gunshots being fired in succession. I picture a man kneeling or standing pointing out his target with the scope and firing.

Attack: The colors I picture when I picture an attack are bright red and orange colors from things exploding. I hear loud bangs from bombs being dropped and very loud gunshots.

B:
WORLD WAR II: My strongest associations for WWII are German troops, and Pearl Harbor. I picture many air strikes from fighter planes. I picture many explosions and ships sinking.

II.
My interpretations have changed about the poem. I realize now was 6 miles away from earth means, flying up above the earth. I see a different way of how he woke by the anit aircraft. Rather than from sleeping on the ground, he was hunched in a ball turret on a plane. Now that I know was a turret is the last sentence where he is being washed out of the ball turret with a hose is more graphic and real. The fact that he was washed out by a hose rather than being lifted out lets you know that the death he died was horrible to the point where it took a hose to wash him out.

The research on the author makes the poem a little more depressing because of the tradgedy the author experienced. Seeing how the events in the poem effected him, it is easier to realize how serious and real the events are in the poem.

homework 03/20/08

"The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner"- I thought this poem was about a soldier over seas who is sleeping like he did when he was in his mother's womb. The second line I think means that he was sleeping in animal fur that was wet from rain. Sleeping in the fur gave the soldier the idea about sleeping like he did when he was in his mother's womb. From this sleep he was awaken by the enemy aircraft fire and a gunner.

Turning out with a focus on historicism:
Historicism examines a particular historical moment present in the text.
When examining Historic events there may be inaccuracies so you have to research the information from when the event happened and todays information on the event.

Homework 03/18/08

"The Soldier"- This poem is a soldiers contribute to England. He talks about if he dies he only wants people to remember him has a soldier of the great England.

"Anthem for Doomed Youth"- This poem is about the dreadful death of a soldier. How they die and lie on the ground like dead cattle with nobody to mourn them and no choir to sing for them besides the sounds of the guns rifling by. No candles to be held to recognize them as they die except their fellow soldiers eyes glimmer recognizing their good bye.

"Glory of Women"- This poem recognizes the mothers or women back at home waiting for their sons to come home from the war. The ending is very dramatic, where it talks about the women kniting socks for her soldier when she doesn't know the he is dead and sitting in the mud.

"They"- This peom is about the ways a soldier changes after a war.

concerns for my paper

I'm concerned about
the organization of my paper
if I am specific enough on who would own the item I have chosen
If I have fulfilled the right criteria.

Warm-up 03/06/08

The message behind my poster is to stop people from littering to perserve the earths beauty.
The reason I chose this particular issue is because I can't stand when I see somebody throwing a cigarette or trash out their car window, or just tossing something on the ground instead of throwing it in the trash.
I used the picture of the green grass to portray the beauty of the earth behind all of the trash that gets thrown out.
Usually the words GO GREEN nowadays typically means save energy, but i thought it was appropriate for my issue as well. It just portrays a somewhat different meaning. If I had another shot I would change it to "save the green" or something similiar.
Also I would used two pictures, one of a green field covered up in trash, and one of the same place with all the trash gone and nothing but the green field.

Topic Proposal

Brad Dimock
ENGL. 102-066
March 3, 2008
Topic Proposal Essay #2:

1.) The object I have chosen for my essay is the apple I-Phone.
2.) The surface message behind the object I have selected is to have everything you want or need right in the palm of your hand.
3.) Additional messages:
The Apple I-phone sends out an additional message that the owner is rich, or spoiled by their parents. It also sends out an additional message that the owner is technologically advanced, wants to have power and feel accepted by others.
4.) Features crucial to analysis:
The Apple I-phone gives the owner the ability to access the internet, talk on the phone, store videos, music, and pictures. It also gives the owner the ability to also check email. The I-phone has a touch screen that rotates when the phone is rotated. It has high-speed internet and a 2 year mandatory service plan starting at $59.99 a month. It only works with a AT&T service. The 8GB I-phone is currently $399.00 and the 16 GB I-phone is $499.00.
5.) The sleek touch-screen is an important design element that helps portray the messages. The Icons on the screen are colorful and easily accessible. The widescreen, proximity sensor, ambient light, and colorful icons all help portray the additional messages. The ability to store all of your favorite songs, videos, or pictures on the I-phone is also an important element in portraying the messages.
6.) The intended audience is someone who is busy, technologically advanced, and professional young adults. Teens who are spoiled or rich are also an intended audience.

Thesis: The Apple I-phone is a very popular item that seems to attract many teens or young adults through its sleek design and technological advancement. While through its expensive service plan and the cost of the phone its-self also discourages others.

Warm-up Feb. 27th

I do believe the design of the poster for a public service or political advertising does affect how we react to the cause. I don't believe the poster will completely affect my reactions but, I do believe the design of the poster can have some small affect on the way I look at the cause. When you see a advertisement for "A cleaner America," or something like that, where they are trying to get you to stop littering. A poster that has a clean design, where they show a field or park with no trash anywhere it does have some affect on the message. If the design shows a park or field with trash everywhere, it can have a different affect on the cause.

Reading for February 26th

In "Reading the politics of Design" it focuses on how design is engaged in it's politics. For example how design affects consumers, as well as how design is used in the world. Design is apart of everything around you. Somebody designed the house you live in or the car you drive or the computer you type on. Their are many reasons for designing any particular thing. The articles in this reading look at if the design hype is true. Whether or not it would make a difference whether a brochure is designed one way rather than the other. It looks into rather Design is just to hide the real product. Because overall it doesn't matter what the product looks like if it doesn't work. The articles look into how the world is so fixed on the design of things nowadays.

Reading for Tuesday February 25th

A "Car Culture" is about the the way the design of cars is related to the society. In one case in particular the design of cars is related to females. Many people buy cars based on their design but design is not the only thing that attracts buyers. It usually is the first thing that attracts buyers. It can also ward off buyers. These articles look at the purpose of car design and how it effects consumers.
Everybody typically has their own style of car that they typically like. Some like the SUV's or the trucks while some like the more compact stylish cars. The design of the cars, SUV's, or trucks can affect the consumer responses. Some designers in a case in the reading don't mind if their design is not pleasing to many consumers, as long as some consumers are pleased by the design. Cars have many different possibilities for design. They can have different body styles, color styles, or interior styles. Every style is pleasing to different people.

Mac vs. PC

I prefer the PC over the Mac. The PC seems more organized and the style is a little more sophisticated. The stlye of the Mac is mostly more colorful and uses a lot of bright lights in the design. The design of the PC is more plain and simple, which makes it easier to use. As far as Advertising goes i see a lot more advertisement for the PC. So, design wise I would have to say i prefer the PC.

Free write movie/song quote

There have been a million times where my friends have qouted movies or songs, that I can't remember at all. The only quote that comes to mind is from Forest Gump only because I have seen the movie over a hundred times and my friends have quoted this one. The quote is "run Forest run.' Their really is no meaning for quoting this besides the fact that it just sounded funny to them. The quote is from the time where Forest has to run from these bullies coming after him and Forest has to run from them when he has braces around his legs. The quote comes from his sort of girlfriend screaming after him to run.

Short Writing Assignment #2

Brad Dimock
ENGL. 102-066
02/11/08
Short Writing Assignment #2:
Introduction:
“Ducks on a Pond,” is a short story about how an old man, Carl Mixson, affects the people around him through his past in baseball and through his heroic action to save a former teammate and co-worker’s life. The passage discussed in this essay reflects this message through a variety of literary elements, such as the imagery, symbolism, wording and more. This paper will reflect the important elements and meaning of the passage and how they contribute to the entire story.

Short Writing Assignment #1

Short Writing Assignment #1
1. “Ducks on a Pond” (CR 254-261)
2. The main point in this short story is that one man, Carl Mixson affected those around him through his success in baseball and his act of heroism outside of baseball.
3. The passage I am analyzing is the 4th paragraph from the bottom of page 259.
4. The author uses imagery in the passage describing the accident as the kid dreamed it happened. The image of Carl Mixson “careening of the curb,” symbolizes the accident that happened in the mill. The words graceful and surefooted refer to Baxter’s father’s ability to play short stop in his years of playing baseball in the mill league.
5. No, this passage does not have any rhyme, rhythm or alliteration.
6. The accident described in this passage contributes to the main point in this story because it shows the effect that Carl Mixson’s heroic action in the mill has had on Baxter. The image of Carl Mixson careening of the curb also contributes to the main point because it reflects the accident. The words graceful and surefooted contribute to the main point somewhat because they tie the message between what happened in the mill to the baseball field.

Thesis: The details and message in this passage of “Ducks of a Pond” clearly reflects the main point of the short story. This paper will reflect the important elements of the passage and how they contribute to the entire story.

Sonny's Blues Key word:Child

"I couldn't stand the way he looked at me, partly like a dog, partly like a cunning child"
"So we drove along, between the green of the park and the stony, lifeless elegance of hotels and apartment buildings, toward the vivid, killing streets of our childhood"
"Safe!, my father grunted, whenever Mama suggested trying to move to a neighborhood which might be safer for children."

The key word child in this story reflects the time when the brothers were children and refers to their pasts. It can also refer to the daughter who died while Sonny was in rehab and the brother was writing a letter to him. The word child reflects their pasts the most because they refer to their pasts throughout the story. How they used to be when they were young and what could have went wrong.

Inhabiting and Transforming a Poem

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 loose woman

If ou've got no character
you'll turn back
and if not
you'll keep going
as you're going now.

This poem is about a girl who is growing up to be a women and what she will face from men when she steps out into the real world. In the poem someone is giving the girl advice for when she steps out into the world. The person tells her what to expect when shes out there. The person tells the girl that guys will be whistling and following her but if she has any character she will not turn back.

askance: look with a side glance
revile: to degrade, abase
The story of this poem is about a girl who is growing up and becoming an adult about to face men on the streets who will degrade her. Its about a girl who in order to keep her character she needs to follow the advice given to her about the men she will face.

1. The narrator in this poem is an adult, mother, or parent.
2. The narrator is speaking to a young girl or daughter who is approaching her years of becoming a woman.
3. The girl is either a girl who is being given advice to by a mentor or a daughter of the narrator.

I think the peom means that inorder to keep your character or self respect you must never look back when passing by the evil temptations in this world. The reason I think this is because it mentions the degrading men she will pass by and that in order for her to keep her character she must never look back.

Videotape

I found this story to be very interesting and sort of creepy. The author paints a clear picture of every detail of what is happening in the video. This makes it appear as if you are there or watching it yourself. The story shows the power behind a videotape. You can relive any event or tradgedy caught on video. The thing that I did not quite understand is how the girl keeps shooting the video even after the man was shot. I did not get the picture from the text that the girl freaked out and forgot about the videotape. It was like she just kept right on like nothing happened. The author real gives you the feel of how the video is being shot, every detail in the girls actions and reactions.

The Fun House

This story was hard to follow because it never kept me interested and never seemed to stay on track. I found myself re-reading a lot because I kept feeling like I was losing my place or getting lost in the story. The way it seems is that he is talking about the past and rambling on about everything that comes to his mind. I never quite got a grasp of what the message in this story really was. It could possibly be the fact that I read Sonny's Blues right before this one and I was so fixed on that kind of story. I could have expected this one to be like that one.

Sonny's Blues

I really enjoyed this story. I felt like it had many life lessons and situations in it that many of us dont go through directly. They could be something for us to learn from. The story is about a teacher who finds out his brother has fallen into a bad situation. From there the man realizes he should have been there to help his brother more. The mans brother is going to some sort of rehab for heroine addiction and when he gets out the man invites him to come back with him. They soon realize they know nothing about each other. The story is very sad, the man's daughter died when she was only two years old at the same time he is dealing with his brothers problems. As it turns out Sonny ends up finding his way playing music and becoming very good at it. I felt like I could relate somewhat to the story because I have a younger sister going through highschool and struggling somewhat. I have to step up sometimes and be the older brother and help her on her way through life, because I've been through it.

Free Write:Warm-up

On my way to class I felt drowsy and cold. I had a million things running through my mind at one time. If I had to describe the mood i was in through color, I would describe it has a dark blue color with gray swirled around in that color. The dark blue color would describe the mood I was in because when you typically are sleeping you want things to be dark and the blue is a relaxing color that makes you fall asleep. The gray swirls mixed in are the million ideas that were and are cluttered in my head at the same time.

Question 1: "Hills Like White Elephants"

The couple in this story are argueing about whether or not to get an abortion. In the first half of the story the women isn't sure whether or not she wants to. while the man is trying to get her to basically drink away her doubts and fears. The man keeps offering more drink to the women. By the end of the story the women is convinced to go with the operation but, is fed up with the man. She tells him to stop talking because she just will go through with it but, doesnt want to talk anymore about it. Abortion is a vey serious issue and is probably a very sensitive issue for the women so she refuses to talk about it. In the second half, the quote, "I realize,"..."Can't we stop talking now," sums up her postition she realizes what she needs to do and now she doesnt want to talk about it anymore.

Question 3: " The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

I think the convenience store worker based his fear on the indian's skin and hair because maybe he has problems in the past with others who have had the same skin color and hair. Another reason he may fear the indian is because it may just be a stereotype in that area that many people fear people with his kind of skin and hair. The narrator suggests that the store worker fears him because of his skin and hair because many other people do and he knows the stereotype around that area.

Question 3: "Girl"

The main reason the mother speaks more than the daughter is because she is going trough and laying out every possible situation for her daughter and every possible rule that her mother has. The daughter says so little because her mother is overwhelming her with these rules and possibilities she will incounter. The daughter only has time to get her mind set on only a few details in her mothers rambling to arguer or question. Her arguments or questions to her mother may not be the most important thing in the conversation but they are the things that stook out in her mind. When somebody is going on about things you should or should not do and you come across something that you know you never do, that thought sticks in your mind untill you have a chance to question it. That's the reason the daughter argued things a little after they were already discussed. The reason the mother says so much more than the girl is because she is rambling on with out many pauses or time for debate from the girl.

“The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven”

"The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven"
The story is about an Indian living in Seattle with a women who he argues with frequently. he describes one night where he goes to a 7-11 store and the man suspects him to be dangerous just because of the way he looks. He also describes a time when he was driving around and got lost in a higher scale neighborhood was and got pulled over by the cops. The cops thought he was suspicious because he was indian and didnt belong in that area. The indian doesnt think he fits the profile for the whole country, not just that neighborhood. The story continues with him going back home to live with his parents and become a bum who watches t.v. all day. The author describes is characters as either white or indian. He must be trying to get a point across that there is tension between the two races.

"Girl" by:Jamaica Kincaid

"Girl"
This story is about somebody laying out a list of how to do everything in life that the girl will come across. I picture the person who is writing the list to be the girl. It could be that the mother has passed away or has left and the girl is writing down a list of things that she thought her mother was supposed to teach her. When she is referred to as the slut her mom always told her not to be, the girl could be saying this because she feels she might have let her mother down. She may not think she turned out how her mother imagined her to. If it is her mother writing the list, the sentences in smaller italic font could be the daughter briefly responding to a few of the items on the list. Another reason I believe it is the girl writing the poem is the fact that some of the items on the list are things that a mother wouldn't typically teach her child. For example, the story says, " This is how you spit up in the air if you feel like...". That sentence makes me think that the girl doesn't know if spitting up in the air is something her mother would have taught her. Maybe the mother hasn't gone anywhere and the list is just a reference for the girl for whenever she comes across anything on the list.

Comparison of Esenin's "Golden Grove"

Golden Grove:
I think the first translation is much better than the second. The first translation seems to be alittle bit deeper and seems to flow more smoothly. The first translation paints a more sophisticated picture than the second translation. The second translation lays everything out to you without you having to search for the meaning. Each translation has the same meaning, they just say it in different ways. The better version I think has a better way of portraying the meaning behind the poem.

Freewrite

Shepherd:

• A shepherd is somebody who guides a group of followers.
• A leader.

Desert:

• A place in the middle of nowhere.
• Somewhere you can get easily lost.
• A place with out water or access to food.

Universe:

• Planets
• Endless space
• everything around you
• The galaxy
• black space with stars

Warm-up

1. Close Reading- To me close reading means to read something to find meaning in the text or reading to find specific information or gain specific information in the text.

Pastoral-To me pastoral might mean something religious. Some type of religous reading.

Oxford Dictionary meanings:
Close Reading-b. spec. in Literary Criticism, close criticism, reading, etc., critical and detailed analysis of a text; an example of this. Also applied to the analysis of other works of art.

Pastoral-I. A person or thing associated with spiritual care.

2.Mistress- A wife or maybe a women a husband is having an affair with.

Nymph-I'm not sure what this one means. Maybe something new.

Oxford Dictionary meanings:

Nymph: 1. Chiefly Classical Mythol. Any of a class of semi-divine spirits, imagined as taking the form of a maiden inhabiting the sea, rivers, mountains, woods, trees, etc., and often portrayed in poetry as attendants on a particular god.
or
b. Chiefly poet. A beautiful young woman; a maiden, a damsel.

Mistress: I. A woman having control or authority.
or
2. a. The female head of a family, household, or other establishment; a woman holding such a position in conjunction with a male counterpart.

Practice 6-D/ Practice 6-E

In "Black Elvis," the character's name does have a connection between his name and his character. He is black and sings elvis songs in a bar. The name black elvis has a meaning. The black part could mean he's black or that nobody believes he can sing like elvis because he is black. In the end of the story nobody believed in him.

6-E The connotation to the word Grandmother to me is Grandma. Grandmother to me means somebody who you visit every year more than once, who always is cooking homecooked country meals. A Grandmother to me is somebody who always loves you no matter what and is there to teach you while you are young.

Homework 01/24/07 Notes/Comments/questions poems

In the Desert:

• I think the author was implying that the creature is lost by saying he is in the desert.
• Him eating at his own heart is like him sinning which is biting away at his heart.
• The creature likes to sin so he likes eating away at his heart.

A Man Said to the Universe:

• Maybe the Man doesn't feel like he is appreciated or noticed.
• When he tries to be noticed the world just blows him off.

The Flea:

• The poem is about a flea who sucked blood from the person in the poem. He or she must be angry that the flea took life(blood) from them.
• The person realizes that the flea took only a small thing from them but he or she kills the flea anyway.

The Passionate Shepard to His Love:

• The Shepard is trying to persuade his love to come live with him by describing what it would be like to be in love with him.

To His Coy Mistress:

• The man is telling his mistress that if they had an eternity to live together he would love her forever and he is telling her how many years he would spend loving every part of her.

The Nymph's reply to the Shepard:

"If all the world and love were young," - this means that if there was more time in the world and more time to love.

"And truth in every shepard's tongue," - This must mean that many shepards lie. It could also mean that many or a shepard has told tales of the world being endless and love lasting forever.

"These pretty pleasures might me move, To live with thee and be thy love," - If all these previous suggestions were true then he could live with her and be her love.

The poem means that world is not timeless and that things fade, but if they did have no age then they could live together and be lovers.

Notes/Comments/Questions (strategies reading)

NOTES:

• When reading it is important to make the distinction between leisure reading and academic reading.
• Leisure reading is reading for pleasure, for no particular purpose.
• Academic reading is reading for a purpose. Academic reading can still be pleasurable.
• Our purposes for reading are different, so our processes - our behaviors and practices - must also be different.
• Primary text- the original piece of fiction or the poem. The primary text is used when reading for basic understanding within the text.
• Secondary text- literary criticism or other cultural or historical artifacts and information. The secondary text is used to situate the text into a larger cultural context.
• Annotation- Taking notes in the margins as you read.
• Skeleton outline- A brief sketchy overview started in the margins of a text and often transferred to outline form.
• Summary- an objective restatement of the main ideas presented in a text.
• Photo collage- a visual representation of your response to the verbal text.
• Dialogue-records quotations from the text and pairs them with the reader's response in the form of a two- column list.

Comments:

The best strategy for me to understand the text is to use the skeleton outline and briefly state what is happening in the text, to better understand and remember a few details.

I think between the photo collage and dialogue to explore my response to a text, I would use the dialogue and form the column to pair quotations from the text and respond to them.

Homework 01/22/08

2. When you encounter a new text, you should ask yourself, what kind of work is it?(what is the genre), what is the focal point of the text?, how is this text different from others?, and what is the work's medium?
9. Subject matter can be signaled by a title, or the subject matter may be clearly stated. In many cases the subject matter is inferred or interpreted.
13. People approach texts differently because everyone has a different background and their own connection(s) with the text. One person may relate to some part in a text when others can not really find any part of the text to relate to or they may find a different part to relate to. The main reason given by the reading is that by birth, education, and experience, we all come to texts differently, find different things in them, and react in unique ways.
14. When taking a text apart, the things you should look for are, the elements that give unity to the text, sequences that link events of a text, the way the whole text is divided, and the arrangement and balance of a text.
15. Details are important in a text because they often provide support for a claim, in written texts. In visual texts, they enrich or complicate your initial experience.