Interpretation

The story that I want to interpret is the “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings: A Children Story”, written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The story is about a husband and wife who have a newborn baby who sick. The father, Pelayo, and his wife, Elisenda, are killing crabs who have come into their home because of the recent heavy rain. While Pelayo walked across his courtyard toward the sea to return the crabs, he noticed a very old man lying on the ground. The strange thing about this old man was that he had these enormous wings that were too big for him and seemed to be too heavy for the man to get up. Pelayo ran to get his wife and after a while they tried to speak to him, but the old man answered in an unrecognizable dialect, and so they asked their neighbor woman who knew much of superstitious things. The woman told them that the old man was an angel and that he had some to take the baby, but being too old, he was unable to fly in the rain. They took him and brought him into the chicken coop. While he was there the child’s fever broke and son all the people in the town were inside Pelayo’s courtyard looking at the old man with enormous wings. Pelayo and his wife began to sell tickets to see the man with wings and made a fortune. Priests, scholars and people who just want to be entertained came to see the winged man and to try to get him to do tricks and perform. Many sick people with absurd diseases came to see if this angel would heal them. A man who couldn’t sleep because he could hear the stars, a man who slept walked and undid everything he had done the day previous, and a woman who couldn’t stop counting her heartbeats and ran out of numbers, were some of the few that came to the old man wanting healing, but were disappointed. Soon after the crowd left to see this “spider-woman” who has the body of a giant spider and could talk to them and answer questions and didn’t mind doing tricks. Pelayo had made much money on the old man and had built a mansion for himself and expanded his courtyard. The only thing he didn’t renovate or make grander is the chicken coop, in which the old man with enormous wings resided. Pelayo soon got tired of taking care of the man who seemed near deaths door and released him of his cage of chicken wire to be free to do what he wanted. The old man didn’t really know what to do with himself and slept in the barn through on ef the worst winters they had. After the winter, the old man seemed to become stronger and when the cold broke away he took flight again and left them as strangely as he came.

The beginning of the story shows me that people always need hope to fall back on. This couple was trying to take care of their sick child, and was running out of answers, but then they found the old man and kept him because they thought his presence could help. They didn’t really understand who this man in rags and giant wings was, but they thought he could help their child. The child represents the innocence in this story, something they need to protect, a sort of childlike logic that the town has towards things that they don’t understand. I also find it funny that they put the old man in a chicken coop, as if he was just an ordinary bird like the rest of the chickens. He was a bird creature to them and nothing more and it was a hassle to take care of him.

The fact that the town saw this angel as nothing more than a sideshow attraction clearly shows its ability to be entertained. I think one of the main points of this story is to see the value in the people around us and not treat people who are different differently. I also sensed a strong urgency to take care of the weak and needy from this story. I thought that the old man with enormous wings was being treated unfairly, but he was still given a place to stay and warmth during winter, including food. You could say that he was being tortured, but it was better than just leaving him in the mud with the weight of his wings crashing down on him. I thought that the sick people with random diseases showed that people are always looking for someone to take their problems away and they are willing to pay for them to do it. You could say the same thing about Pelayo and his wife because they kept the angel there for the chance that his presence might be able to help their child. People who need the help the most are willing to hold onto whatever chance they can get to be able to get it.

I also thought it was weird that they kept asking the neighbor woman who knew many things about life and death. They trusted just another person who would offer their advice. People look for advice and guidance in the wrong places very easily and I thought this was a perfect example of that. My main interpretation of this story is that the message the author was trying to tell is that we should not be looking for the next attraction to take up our live, but instead fill our lives with helping and caring for others and our lives will be filled with substance and meaning.

Symbolism

I liked this small chapter on Symbolism. When you look for symbols in pictures and paintings to help you understand the meaning, you never think that these symbols exist in literature too. The poem called "Orange" is a good example. It starts with the man saying he has 2 oranges in his coat pocket and he is walking with this woman on some kind of date. She wanted some chocolate that cost a dime and all he had was a nickel, and instead, he offered the cashier one of the oranges in exchange for the other nickel owed. This was a gamble because if the cashier refuses then he looks foolish and poor in front of this girl, but if the cashier agrees then he gets her what she wants and looks cunning and persuasive. In the end he succeeds and as they walk along the streets, she eats her chocolate and he begins to eat his orange and describes it as a fire in his hands. I don't think that the orange was worth a nickel to the cashier, but it was obviously worth something to the man.

It is easy to find symbols around us everyday. America has many symbols of our freedom, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument, and Mount Rushmore. There are many different types of symbols. People can also be symbols. Martin Luther King Jr. is a symbol for equality. Hitler is a symbol for racism and hate. Books also use symbols in their text. In The Christmas Carol, The old clock ringing its bell at a new hour symbolized a new Christmas ghost coming to visit Ebenezer Scrooge. At thee beginning of this class we read a story where a bell symbolized a re-do on the conversation of a man and woman in a coffee shop. There are many symbols used in our lives day to day, and Literature also uses them.

Waiting For Godot 2nd Blog

What can we learn from the story Waiting for Godot? The characters are very unique and original and they teach us very serious lessons. The first one I learned was that we should never be alone. Even if we have no home, no where to go, and no purpose in life, as long as we have someone to share that life with, then our lives are worth living. I think the part that describes this the best is when they were discussing suicide, but didn't do it because of the chance that one might not die and be left by himself. That to me is significant. Another lesson we can learn from this story is that we should always have hope in something. When the child kept returning to tell them that Godot will come tomorrow, that gave Vladimir and Estragon some hope to stay and look forward to the next day. Even when they met Lucky, they could see that their lives were better then his and that they were not at the lowest of the low. I was just able to find small things in the story that seemed like they contained messages, but some parts still seemed weird. You would have to admit that this story has many weird bits and lines in it that made it possibly one of the weirdest stories that I have read. One of these awkward moments was when Vladimir, Estragon, and Lucky were changing hats back and forth and it seemed to go on for nearly a page and a half. I don't really see why the author had to make thus part so elaborate, but it was well detailed and made it into the story. The last lesson that I learned from this book is that no mater what you have to have respect for yourselves. Vladimir showed this when Pozzo first appeared and Estragon asked him for the bones from his meal, and Vladimir said that they were not beggars and that they shouldn't beg, even though he said he was hungry before.

Waiting For Godot

The play/story starts off with two homeless men waiting for their acquaintance Godot to arrive, even though they don't really know what he looks like. They wait their for a long time, and basically just try to keep themselves occupied while they wait. The story is based around them trying to keep themselves occupied. The two characters are named Vladimir and Estragon. While waiting for their friend to arrive they discuss salvation and the two thieves crucified next to Jesus. They sing they laugh, and play. They sleep too, but the also discuss suicide and other serious topics.

I honestly didn't really like the book that much and I have only read Act I so far. The conversations that the men have seem weird and are not really funny. Vladimir seems to be the leader of the two and bosses Estragon around. I was annoyed at how many times they had to ask themselves what the other one wanted to do, and when they were discussing the idea of suicide, I did think it was kind of humorous that they decided against it because one of them might not die and would be left alone, and not for the sake of the ending their own life. The whole encounter with Pozzo was weird for me because even though Vladimir and Estragon are obviously beggars, they didn't ask for anything and had to much pride. Lucky was kind of a humorous character because he never really said anything but just stood their being a slave, and doing what Pozzo told him to do.

Basically the story being built about trying to keep yourself occupied so not to become completely bored is what bored me. I guess you could say that you don't need a great plot or story line to create a work of literary art, since this is said to be one of the greatest.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long

I must admit this was pretty funny, I may not have liked all the singing bits, but that's just because I am not that into musicals. The small film/blog seemed to be making fun of itself, and that was what made it funny. When the movie started I was just like what the heck is this and why is he making us watch it, but then I figured out how great it was, but I still don;t know why you chose that for us to watch. I cannot see really an connection to literature besides the going against the norm in story line. It is rare though to be cheering for the bad guy, Dr. Horrible, and against the good guy, Captain Hammer. Even though most people would not like the ending, I did like the fact that nothing turned out the way he wanted it. He had to give up on his love to make way for another one of his loves, which is crime. I think my favorite thing about the story is the concept. This idiot of a scientist who can create anything apparently can't make himself a laundry machine, and talks about his feelings on a video blog. He even is dub enough to announce his plans on the Internet to everyone, including the police and his nemesis Captain Hammer. This also went outside the realm of normal superhero comic book story lines, because there was no real punishments for the crimes that he committed. He just beat Captain Hammer and killed some woman, but the police just clean up the place and do nothing. It was like the superheros and super villains just dealt with each other, and the rest of society was there to spectate. With the weird storyline and plot holes I still really liked it and was glad I watched it.

Lake Bonney Park

Sun shining, a cool wind blowing, and a Johnny Cash playing in my ear; this is a nice day outside. When I first arrived I didn't know where the nature part of the park was, because all I saw were baseball fields everywhere. Then once I found the path, I figured out where I was supposed to go. The only real outdoorsy nature things I have gone so far were more of an active, survival or hunting experience, but this kind was more refreshing. It kind of reminded me of a sing by Rush called The Trees. I will be honest and say that usually when I walk in any kind of empty natural setting I usually let my mind wander and see how it could be used as a paintball field or hunting area, but the park was calm enough to let me focus on the assignment.

The green blades of grass covered in dew reflected the bright rays of sun, while the moss covered trees drooped over my head. Bugs and insects buzzed and crawled around looking for food or any sort of peachy colored skin to take a bite of. The lizards of Southeastern were no where in sight, but the squirrels and birds were still there to accompany me. After sitting in the shade for a few minutes I decided to change my music selection to Rush and that was when I heard their song The Trees.

" There is unrest in the forest. There is trouble with the trees. For the maples want more sunlight and the oaks ignore their pleas."

That is the opening line of the song, because it makes it sound like the trees are alive. Oh wait, they are alive. That's when I realized that nature is alive and God created it as a living being for us to take care of. who needs a pet when you have a garden; although a pet would respond to you more.

Mary Oliver, "Praying"

To pray is a serious thing. We must all take prayer seriously and know that our heart and mind are focused on God when we pray. We should remember that God listens to our hearts, not just our mouths. He knows when we are just giving Him lip service. That being said, I loved this poem. I think it describes the true nature of prayer and how it isn't just a platform for people to sound religious. Our words don't have to be philosophical or poetic, but honest and from the heart. When is the last time an one of us just came to God and said, "God, I am an idiot, and I don't deserve Your grace." This to me is how we should all start out our prayers. We spend t much time asking for things and not enough telling God how awesome He is.

My favorite part of the poem is when Mary Oliver said that we don't need to give Him lilies, but weeds from open lot will do. There is a story n the Bible off a rich man who comes to the temple to give an offering and he gave a large amount, but then a poor old woman also came to the temple to give and offering, and she a gave two copper pieces which was all that she had. Jesus then asked His disciples who gave the most. The answer was the woman, because she gave something hat meant more to her than the rich man. We should take this lesson to heart. Even when we don't have the most we should give what we cherish the most, and sometimes that is just our time. What f God kept a time sheet of how much we pend on face before Him in prayer. Wouldn't it be sad if we only spent a total of a month of our lives in prayer.

State of the Planet

I have never seen the whole movie, but I like to watch some of the specials on the National Geographic channel. It always amazes me to see what God has create on this earth and the things that he can make happen. Everything works together so perfectly and to me, it is impossible for anyone to watch any of that footage and say that it all happened by chance. One of the most amazing things that I have seen on the National Geographic is when they show the ocean floor. You see the most amazing looking creatures that completely blow your mind. On one of the journeys down, the small submarine crew see this giant circle of clams and other crustaceans surrounding this black liquid like lake that seemed to be at least 50 yards wide, and the crew notices that this black stuff is a liquid that has completely separated itself from the sea water. The crew then decides that since the are in a submarine they should be able to dive into it. When they try they just ricochet off the surface, and the black liquid ripple from the impact. After the experience, they still have no idea what the stuff is and why it acts like a separate lake under the ocean.

One time I watched a special on the rain forest and its inhabitants. At one moment during the special, 2 separate chimpanzee tribes were about to war against each other over a land dispute, and the head monkey from the stronger tribe stood on a rock and held a staff while yelling and jumping and making lots of noise. He then pointed the staff at the enemy monkeys and his army charged toward them. I just sat there dumbfounded, looking at my TV screen, thinking, "How is this possible." The quick answer to that is God. He has made all things possible, and it is our job to marvel at his work. I is also our job to take care of His work, and not just the natural, but the spiritual. WE need to take care of ourselves, and make it a priority to keep our spirit one with God.

Rain

It has been raining a lot lately. My softball game was canceled because of the rain on Monday. This made me sad.

It has been raining a lot lately. A few weeks ago someone made a slip n' slide outside. It was really fun.

It has been raining a lot lately. This kinda of makes sense since we live in Florida. I would like it if it snowed.

It has been raining a lot lately. This means that Lake Bonney will fill up nicely soon. That will make some sweet sunsets.

It has been raining a lot lately. I wish I had an umbrella.

It has been raining a lot lately. My clothes are wet.

It has been raining a lot lately. This is because of the build up of moisture in the air, and because we are so close to the ocean. That may not be scientifically correct.

It has been raining a lot lately. I have not seen a rainbow though, but God still hasn't flooded the earth.

It has been raining a lot lately. Thank you Lord for your promises and blessing. May Your bountiful waters fall on our harvest.

It has been raining a lot lately.

It has been raining a lot lately.

The RAMP

I am going to be completely honest. I forgot that we had to go to go to that play, until you reminded us of it last class. I had already made plans to go to a worship conference in Alabama. The conference was called the RAMP, and I would say that it similar to Fire Fall, but 100 times better. I wish I could say that I would have rather stayed to go to the play, but I would be lying. I would never take back the experience I had at the RAMP. I feel like I have been completely changed. Proof that I am changed by my experience is that when you were talking about honesty and integrity concerning the play attendance. I said to myself, "Yeah, right!", and I was planning on reading a summary of he play then just writing about that, but instead I am here telling you the truth.

The first night of the Ramp, the preacher aught on Ananias and Sephira, who were new Christians right after Christ had risen, and were apart of the early church. A leader in the church, Barnabas, sold his land and gave the money to church. Like wise Ananias sold his land, but instead gave only part to the church, but said it was all. The preacher than spoke of how Christians have been ruining their relationship with God, because they have been pretending to give all to him, while still holding back. Jesus said, It is better to be hot or cold, but if you are lukewarm, I will spew you out of my mouth." This message completely left me stunned, and I knew I had to change. I rededicated my life to Christ, and decided to give him my all instead of just half.

So i appologize that I didn't attend the play, but I would miss it again f it meant not experencing the change that I had.

The Wanderer

I am now gong to try to attempt to combine poetry and short story telling to create a work of art.

Place to place he travels
Always looking at God's creation
New locations to unravel
He walks around all his nation

He needs no sleep
He just likes to wander
No plans to keep
He will walk and ponder

Never straying from his course
Not needing steed, mule, nor horse
He walks along with no remorse
He strides ahead with deadly force

He begins to run
Never looking back
His journey near done
He stays on track

Destination near
He slows his pace
Wanderers just wander
This isn't a race.

He can go anywhere
Just as long as he is going
Weather stormy or fair
He will wander without knowing.

This Fall Morning

Jeremy opens his eyes and looks up at the pale speckled ceiling of his bedroom. Light forces its way into the bedroom through the window shades, and Jeremy slides out of bed to start a new day. He hears the pitter-patter of feet charge through the hallway to his room, echoing through the empty house, getting closer and closer. The bedroom door creaks open slowly, as Brutus, his faithful Australian Shepherd casually walks into the room and jumps on the bed. As Jeremy walks over to kick Brutus off his bed, he catches himself in the mirror. He coldly stares at the unfamiliar man in the reflection. He saw the same pinkish white skin, brown eyes, and shaggy brown hair, but he didn't see himself. Jeremy's eye catches the clock sitting on his dresser, and realizes what time it is, rushes to his son's room to get him ready for school.

Jeremy's life took an unexpected turn, early fall, four years ago after his wife, Sandra, passed away. Their son Max was only one and a half, and didn't really understand what was going on. Jeremy was only twenty-four years old when he became a single father. He graduated from a prestigious technical school, and had a good job, but Jeremy wanted to be with his son more than anything, so he started working from home as a website designer. Some of his close friends were their to help him through the major change, but over the years they have drifted apart. It is hard to stay in contact with each other, when you have to do the work of two.

After Jeremy walked Max to the school bus, he went back inside the house and made a cup of coffee. He looked through the kitchen window he saw the first leaves of Fall begin to turn into their beautiful array of reds, golds, and purples. The wind blowing the trees back and forth, as his neighbors wind chime jingles to the pace of the wind. Jeremy catches his reflection again, this time in the window, and memories of the good times in his life that he had with Sandra began to flood into his mind. He remembered the day Max was born, and when he first spoke. A smile crept onto Jeremy's face, and right then he realized that he recognized the man in the reflection.

The Good Soldier

I will be honest, I was hoping to read a book about war and fighting and epic battles, but that is not the case with The Good Soldier. I would have to say that this is more of a journal from an American, who is living in England, during or after some kind of conflict (I would say WWI). He is not a solder n any way. His wife, Florence, is dead, and his best friend, Edward, is dead. The narrator does not have a name yet and I am on chapter three. He mostly talks about his encounters, or double dates, with him, his wife, and Edward and his wife. He discusses the world around him and what he does and doesn't like about the people that he knows. He talks about the quality of men around him, but the only soldier mentioned in the story at all is Edward, who is more of a commander. I was thinking that because the book hints inn its name it s about a soldier. who I expected would do some great deeds and save many lives, but that has not been the case at all. This is definitely more like that "What is love" story, where the main character is the narrator, but unlike that story there is no conversation between characters, It is more of a person writing or journaling in a book his thoughts on why his is where he is and recent and past events that have occurred to him.

I don;t want to shut out this book yet, because the way the author writes is interesting, but when we were reading in the library, I had a hard time not falling asleep. Plus, the way the author writes is kind of cryptic because I am not sure if the narrator was unfaithful to his wife, or the other way round, or if he was talking about after she had already died. I am only on the third chapter though, so I can't really say I have a firm grasp on the book, but as of now it is below my expectations.

Ethics

Who would you save, the old woman or the Rembrant painting? In my case I would just pull the fire alarm and let the sprinklers put the fire out. That is what we are taught growing up, so why would it change if we are in a museum. Yes, the paintings and art will probably get wet and ruined, bet not all of them would be destroyed, which would be the case if we just let the fire get them. And isn't there any security in this museum? Why are they not helping? Maybe there is a burglary going on somewhere else in the museum, and the fire is a distraction.

I got off-topic. Ethics, written by Linda Pastan, is a very unusual poem about an old woman sitting in a museum looking at a Rembrant painting, while reminiscing about her childhood, and why her being there seems so ironic. The fact the she said that the painting, herself, and the season are all beyond the saving of children shows that she is near death anyway, and that all things must come to an end at some point and we are just postponing the inevitable. Children probably don't understand this concept and live more in the moment. Maybe that is why Jesus told us to be like the little children, an live to affect what we can now, instead of dwelling on the future.

Old Man Whitherspoon

Old Man Whitherspoon lived by himself in old run-down Victorian river house, which was almost as old as he was. He sat in his rocker outside on his porch, clutching his rifle with his coarse, clammy hands. His beady eyes gazed into the river banks, while he drifts into memories and past event sin his life. His face worn and aged, with no hair on his head or tooth in his mouth. A straw of grass rests between his lips, bending and twirling by the wind. Whitherspoon just sat there n his porch day in and day out, waiting to shoot anybody and everybody that dare set foot on his property. He has no use for the usual pleasures and delights. There was no TV or radio in his house, nor a computer. Most of it is just smut anyways. He just sings to himself and rock in his chair. The floor boards under him creak and squeak as he rocks, but he welcomes the noise, because it the only voice he hears all day. Old Man Whitherspoon never really leaves his house except to go to the corner store to buy necessities. His wordrobe hasn't had an new additions in the last 30 years. Actually, there might not even be a shirt in his closet that isn't long sleeve and plaid. Whitherspoon cooks for himself, but that still isn't often enough. None of his pants fit him because he is so skinny. All the people who even know who he is just thinks that he is just waiting to die, but no one would dare try to help him in anyway, unless they like having a gun pointed at them. Old Man Whitherspoon just rocks back 'n forth singing his songs, holding his gun tightly, and smiling his toothless smile.

Character

As I read about character the assigned reading, I realize that I usually put myself as the character in most stories I read. When I am the character I still have to what the author says I do, like a puppet on a string, but the experiences that the character gets allows me to predict what I would do next or respond to something happening. This usually allows me to figure out where the story is going. If I were to mimic the characteristics and virtues of the main character, I can understand his feelings. Obviously I would have trouble being a female character that usually why I stay away from any kind of girly novels. But one thing this reading has taught me to notice is that there are many things that make up a “character”. How the character looks at themselves and how others look at them affects the protagonists and antagonist indefinitely.

Another thing that this reading has taught me is that the antagonist and protagonist can sometimes be the opposite of the literary norm. Think of some movies that you have seen where the hero was more of a bad guy, while the antagonist was on the side of good. It is strange that books and novels can show the perspective of the opposite side of the norm. I think that is one of the things that make literature interesting. You can create a world that no one has ever seen, or you can just add to what everyone already knows. Gone with the Wind was one of the greatest films ever made, and it just created a story around a real event. Lord of the Rings is my favorite book series, as is for many others, and it was completely thought up inside the mind of J.R.R. Tolkien.

How to Read a Poem

How to Read a Poem is a short essay, or very small book about , what the title says, how to read a poem. It takes a deeper look into what makes poem and even the poems construction. Every poem need some kind of ambiguity, where it is deep and complicated, or simple and childish. Poetry can be very hard to read and authors John Coulson and Peter Temes inserted one of the weirdest lines of poetry that I ever read saying,
“All this-
Was for you old women.
I wanted to write a poem
That you would understand.
For what good is it to me
If you cannot understand it?
But you got to try very hard-“
Obviously this poem does not rhyme or have any deep connection, but what it says is true. Poetry is really hard to understand, and even people who say they are experts on poetry argue with each other on what famous poems actually mean. You shouldn't’ try to look to deeply into any poem, because you might end up making up meanings for it that the author never intended.
One thing that helps is reading the poem aloud and trying to let the words sink in. It can help you understand I better, and maybe impress people around you to make them think you are more intellectual than you actually are, but t is better used to help you understand the poem better.
Be sure to also remember something that How to Read a Poem left out. No poem is going to be understood by everyone. Some poems may seem stupid to some, but art to others. When you write a poem, you shouldn't do it for other’s enjoyment, but something personnel that helps you. To me that is the most important thing in poetry.

My Joel painting

I would like to start off by saying that I don't have a scanner, nor do I know how to use the one in the library, even though there is instructions. That all being said, I cannot post the fantastic artwork, that is my description of the entire book of Joel, and also I would not like to cause you a heart attack to gaze on its magnificence. I started the painting off by using a pencil to outline what I wanted to do, and mainly to create a cliff formation that was going to be he centerpiece of the painting. I got the idea from the opening sequence of the Lion King, and keeping that in mind will help you with a clear description of the painting. Joel is standing on the edge of he cliff with his staff being held in the air, as a myriad of people listen to his words as he proclaims them. The sky is red, as the sun hides under the hills, and h moon appears behind the clouds. Storm clouds surround the mountain the Joel is on, and holy lightning strikes the ground near the people and causes panic. The lighting creates small fires near the terrified audience, as Joel keeps on speaking.

I actually think I did a pretty good job in m description of what Joel was doing. I am used to putting though to paper, through drawing, instead of with paint. I would have to say that it was one of the best painting I have done, even though I don't think it was the best in the room, it was definitely up there.

Proclaiming Joel

I started my expedition of proclaiming The Book of Joel by finding some shade, and just reading the text out loud. I decided I would try to make the reading more interesting by reading using different tones in my voice, from deep to high. I also tried reading using impersonations of famous people of characters that I know. Then at some point i tried to read The Book of Joel as if was written as a song. I read some of it as a rap song, some parts as just a worship song. The text was obviously not meant for a song, because the words don't go together very rhythmically at all, but maybe I just couldn't find the right tune for it.

After I had read through The Book of Joel one full time, I changed my spot of proclaiming to another, less populated spot. I moved to where the offices of the Spence building meet the music rooms, which face the lake, and in that little corner cove, I sat down to read the paper once more. I was half way through the first page when i notices a duck in the far corner of my little outdoor nook, and as I stared at her, and she stared at me, I realized that it was sitting on something. I didn't dare move, but after a while of staring, the duck just got up and waddled off. I looked to see what it was sitting on, and there were about 10 eggs in a small nest. I decided that the eggs can be my audience, so I started proclaiming Joel to them.

The Book of Joel

This is a comparison piece of The Book of Joel and Walt Whitman's poem "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd". Both text are gloomy in nature, and like to go into detail about how gloomy their story is. The Book of Joel is more of an apocalyptic prophecy that for tells the end times and the punishments and blessing that come with it. The Book of Joel is not very poetic, but more of a focus description that specifies torments and plagues that will utterly destroy any kind of civilization or life on this earth, for the exception of Judah.

Whitman's poem seems to have a more rhythmic language and flow, which The Book of Joel does not.I would say that the only similarities of the two text are how they are written. Both seem to focus on what facet or piece of their story, and write about it in great detail, then move on to the next piece. Both like to write about sadness and horror, with a hint of anger. I would probably not want to make either men upset, as they might write terrible things about me.

I actually like The Book of Joel the best because it is a biblical story and it is more of a prophecy then a eulogy. I guess it would still be considered a eulogy, but one for the future generations instead of someone in his present time.

When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd

This was probably the longest poem I have ever seen or read. I could understand that this was written about Abraham Lincoln, after he was assassinated. There are some obvious connections to the Civil War, for example, "And I saw askant the armies, I saw as in noiseless dreams hundred of battle-flags, Borne through the smoke of the battles and pierced with missiles I saw them, And carried hither and yon through the smoke, and torn and bloody, And at last but a few shreds left on the staffs, (and all in silence, ) And the staffs all splinter'd and broken." This poem encompasses the authors entire time period, more or less. From the way he writes to the things he describes allows me to see what he is seeing and think about what he is thinking. This poem allows me to enter the mind of the author, which is the purpose of any story or poem. Some minds are interesting to go into, while others are not. I would say that Walt Whitman's mind is something that I am not used too.

Crucial Conversation

This is actually an assigned reading book for my Business Communications class. I have read this book more than any other assigned reading book or textbook though. It basically teaches you have to talk to people and how to know what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. It was written by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron Mcmillan, and Al Switzler. It taught me that body signs can tell you more about the message people are trying to give you more than the actual words coming out of their mouths. The first lesson it teaches is that the only person you can directly control is yourself. We cannot control what other people do, but we can control ourselves (most of the time), but through our words and our actions we can influence others. Many salesmen, advertisers, and business people in general know how to smooth talk their way into your mind, and press the right buttons, but they cannot control you or what you do. How we act and react is based on previous experiences and genetics given to us by our parents.



There will be times where we are put into difficult situations that may be awkward and uncomfortable, but that doesn't mean we can avoid them. This book also focuses on ways to make yourself and others feel comfortable and safe to discuss or confront awkward or embarrassing situations. One of the examples used in the book is a boss having to tell one of his employees that he needs to wear deodorant because his coworkers have been complaining. This is just a few of he awkward situations that real people have to deal with, and Crucial Conversations helps you develop your people and conversation skills to help you in your career and life.

This book is a good read, and can be very fulfilling to your future. Knowing how to talk to people and be social can make you better at what you do and how you present yourself. I would recommend this book to anyone who is majoring in any form of business degree, or if you just want to develop you interpersonal relationship skills.

The Things We Carried

I thought this was an awesome story. Judging by the weapons and the descriptions of "what they carried", and what was around them, I would place them in Vietnam. They all carried things that were important to them. When you think about it, you would carry with you the things that you would see as a necessity to stay alive. Anything you would bring would slow you down more and make you more tired, so the things you would bring with you would have to be of the utmost importance. Of coarse there were things they were required to bring with them as part of their designated job, but they all could bring extra things, things that mean something to them. Kiowa brought his grandfather's hatchet, which I thought separated him more as a Native American than a soldier. Ted Lavender carried a few ounces of dope, and of course, Jimmy Cross, the main character, carried his letters and picture of Martha.

The story kept going back to the part when Ted Lavender was killed and how quick it was and how he just fell like a rock. His death seemed to be the focal point of the story, which created all the conversation. I guess what you could say about his death is that since he carried so many things with because of his fear, he never really had a chance. He relied to much on what he carried to protect him and not enough on his own personnel ability.

Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carried his tokens of Martha, a girl that doesn't love him back, and someone he is hoping is still a virgin, just so he can get the chance to de-flower her himself if he makes it back. He had a chance to be with her on his date with her, but he feels he ruined it because he was to aggressive and has been thinking of how he could have done better on the date so he could succeed next time. He looks at her pictures and looks at her letters pretend them to be love letters, even though they aren't. Then when Ted Lavender was killed he blamed himself for his death because he was to caught up on Martha instead of leading to the best of his ability.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Love - Raymond Carver

I honestly didn't like this story. I feel like both couples have comepletely distorted love to being something that two drunk people share that makes them tolerant of each other as they drink their sadness away. THe story has a woman who was physically abusd by her ex-husband, but still seems to think that he loved her even though he tried to kill her.he stalks her after they seperated and tries to kill her new boyfriend, nly to end up killing himself. That isn't love. That's just obsession mixed with somekind of demonic anger problem that stems from eccess drinking, which is what the two couples are doing in the story in the first place

Mel, the most talkative character, told a story about an old couple who got into a car accident and were taken to the hospital he works at. I guess you could say what the old couple had was love, but Mel, who also spent five years in seminary, seemed to not understand the lesson their relationship was showing him. Andif the story hadn't told me that Mel went to seminary for five years, I wouldn't of guessed that he had even gne to church in five years.

How the story was written captured what I imagined two drunk couples talking about love would sound like. I just didn't want to know these backard perspectives on love from these characters who wouldn't who couldn't tell the diference between love and being tolerant of someone. Mel and Terri were together for about a year before they got married. I would need at least a year to be able to tell if I could see myself marrying this person, and probably more than that to be able to see if this was the person I was meant to marry. In the end I guess that the story annoyed me more than anything.

How Literature First Found Me

Most people start their childhoods being read warm, fuzzy children's books that help you to remember to obey your parents, be honest, and don't judge people, but my first aquaintance with literature was the Old Testament. My dad would read the Bible to me and my brother every night. He used a one year Bible, and he made sure we would get through the entire Bible in one year. Each night he would follow up with questions about the chapters that he read to us to make sure we were paying attention enough my first encounter with books was boring to me, and reading was not as fun as kicking a soccer ball or playing a game. Reading became less attractive when it became school related. It was a long time before i was given a book that had any pictures in it, and by that time i was to old to find Dr. Seuss or the Bearingstein Bears entertaining.

During my 8th grae year my friend recommended that i read Frank Perreti. He had some young adult books that he had written and i began to read those to try to pass the time during the summer between 6th and 7th grade. It was an eight book series, and some of the books I would read within a whole 24 hours. During my 8th grade year i began to read the Left Behind adult series. I made it pretty far into the series but couldn't quite finish it because my addiction for faded after waiting so long for the next book to come out.

Once high school began reading became secind nature to me and i started reading books like the Illiad and the Odysee. I took an interest in historical fiction, which somehow led me to graphic novels. I went from not having any pictures for refferance when i was young to having pictures with little text bubbles.