September 29, 2005
Let Her Out!
Gilman, ''The Yellow Wall-paper'' (1899) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
"I get unreasonably angry with John sometimes I'm sure I never used to be so sensitive. I think it is due to this nervous condition."
Wow, I couldn't believe how this woman just let her husband rule over her like in The Yellow Wallpaper. The narrator was obviously suffering from a condition that needed love and nurture replaced, but instead she spends her days in this asylum-looking nursery, which just reminds her more of her condition. Nice doctor- he doesn't even suggest having outside exposure or getting some fresh air to help her. The narrator is letting John dominate her and she is believing him more everyday. She needs to get out and stop being a doormat. Its pretty sad when your best friend becomes the wallpaper...and its UGLY wallpaper.
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at 07:54 AM | Comments (0)
September 28, 2005
My Compilation of Beautiful Blogs
Here is my first Blog Portfolio from a compilation of my very first experiences with blogging ever!
Coverage:
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/DennisJerz/EL266/010152.php
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/DennisJerz/EL266/010154.php
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/AshleyHoltzer/2005/09/bartleby_the_sc_1.html
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/AshleyHoltzer/2005/09/bartleby_the_sc.html
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/AshleyHoltzer/2005/09/dimmesdale_is_d.html
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/AshleyHoltzer/2005/09/still_after_hes.html
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/AshleyHoltzer/2005/09/scarlet_letter.html
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/AshleyHoltzer/2005/09/the_scarlet_let_3.html
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/AshleyHoltzer/2005/09/the_scarlet_let.html
Depth:
These are some entries where I found myself searching the internet to find out more. Check out these blogs to explore beyond your intelligence...
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/AshleyHoltzer/2005/09/the_process_of.html#more
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/AshleyHoltzer/2005/09/bartleby_the_sc_1.html
Interaction:
I loved commenting on what others had to say about the stories I have read. When reading them with an open mind, it's interesting to try and see someone else's point of view.
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/LaurenEtling/2005/09/poor_little_pea.html
I was involved in the class discussion about Young Goodman Brown. Everyone was really trying to make their points!
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/DennisJerz/EL266/010152.php
This is my ultimate blog entry that caused a lot of discussion about the shock of Dimmesdale being dead at the end of The Scarlet Letter. I am so proud of this one because I put a lot of time into it!
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/AshleyHoltzer/2005/09/dimmesdale_is_d.html
I found it amusing to comment on Jay's blogs because his points are so cynical, yet thought-provoking!
http://blogs.setonhill.edu/JasonPugh/010791.html
I commented on Michelle's to get things rolling on The Scarlet Letter.
Discussions:
Of course, my obvious blog that sparked a lot of discussion was my "Dimmesdale is Dead?" entry
Then there is my blog entry about Bartleby the Scrivener and the use nicknames.
Timeliness:
I found it easier to be on time with blog entries after getting used to the routine and blogging in general!
The first part of The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter Chapters 14-21
Xenoblogging:
I was the first person to get the conversation started on Michelle Koss's entry about The Scarlet Letter.
I think this blog entry of mine helped other peers talk about the death of
This blog entry helps give extra information to anyone interested in learning more about Reading Actively
I am so excited of the website I found to help people (and myself) understand The Custom House and history of The Scarlet Letter in general.
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at 07:49 PM | Comments (0)
September 27, 2005
The Process of Reading, Responding to and Writing About Literature
After reading this chapter, it became more evident to me that I am not just reading stories for plot summarization. While reading, it is important to be an "active reader" and pay close attention to words. I like the idea of responding to literature actively by writing in the margins my interpretations of what is happening or to make any appropriate notes. It is important to know the work's historical background before reading in order to develop a better sense for the character's actions or motives.
I found some extra helpful information on reading actively on another course web page:
Active reading means reading with your complete attention and with focus. Another way of putting it is that active reading is all about making text meaningful. There are many levels of meaning that we can discover in a text. Here are a few of the most important ones:
1. the genre of the text- is the text a novel, poem, an essay, or a work of non-fiction?;
2. the context in which the text was written – what was the historical period, the physical setting and the kind of society in which the writer lived?;
3. the audience for which the text was written – was it written for women or men, rich or poor, adults or children, the highly educated or a mass audience?;
4. the author’s explicit or implicit purpose for writing – what is the author trying to say or is assuming?;
5. the levels of meaning in the text – does the text operate on a number of different levels of sophistication?;
6. the hidden meanings in the t ext- what symbols or codes does the writer use to convey special meaning?;
7. the unintended meanings in the text- what meanings can critical readers attribute to the text that the author never intended?;
8. the meanings that different audiences attributes to the text- has the text been read differently by different groups at different times?;
9. the academic significance of the text- what is the significance of the text for the academic significance or university course in which it is being read?;
10. the personal meaning that the text has for you – how was the book special or how did it affect you?
You will no doubt have noticed that we left personal meaning until the very last. There’s a good reason for this. Too many students get so caught up with their own personal reaction to what they are reading. The multiplicity of meanings that are possible in a complex text often lead students into the error of believing that their opinion is just as good as anyone else’s.
Active reading means suspending your personal and often emotional response to a text in order to explore its meanings more thoughtfully, analytically, and synthetically. First impressions, with texts as with people, are often misleading. The more you learn about different possible meanings, the more you will appreciate the qualities of the text that you might have overlooked before.
My source was:http://www.calumet.yorku.ca/spec/study/Reading%20Actively.htm
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at 04:18 PM | Comments (1)
Bartleby the Scrivener vs. The Customs House
Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter (Ch 22-24, Introductory) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
The Customs House and Bartleby the Scrivener seem to have many similiar characteristics, especially in relation to the narrators. The narrators of both stories hold high positions in their workplace: a lawyer and a chief executive officer. I think both narrators recognize the feeling of having the same employees for years. Both workplaces experience the same routine day-in and day-out without much interest in bringing new workers into the job.
However, Bartleby is an exception. The narrator in his story chooses to bring in a new worker, which causes him a lot of thought and uneasiness to the "new" work atmosphere.
I think its important to also note that both narrators have an uneasiness. The narrator of The Customs House expresses his uneasiness of making a living out of writing, and the narrator of Bartleby seems to be uneasy about Bartleby "preference" to not complete his tasks.
I found the coolest website called "Hawthorne in Salem". This website tells all about the Custom House in Salem and there is even a short video clip. Check out all of the topics you can choose. The pictures are great!
http://pearl.nscc.mass.edu/Architecture/CustomHouse/Introduction.html
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at 04:05 PM | Comments (0)
September 26, 2005
Bartleby the Scrivener
Melville, ''Bartleby the Scrivener'' (1853) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
"In truth they were nicknames, mutually conferred upon each other by my three clerks, and were deemed expressive of their respective persons or characters."
I found this story to show some syllabication with the names once again (like Chillingworth and Pearl in "The Scarlet Letter"). I think its obvious how Melville holds himself at a much higher level of prestigiousness by not even calling his employees by their names. It says "Nippers, Turkey and Ginger Nut" seem to have agreed upon it, but I'm sure they were just making him happy. I think its funnny how the names don't really fit the workers at all. Bartleby seems to give the narrator an awakening by not listening to his orders, unlike the others.
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at 07:48 AM | Comments (4)
September 20, 2005
Dimmesdale is Dead?
Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter (Ch 22-24, Introductory) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
"The final word came forth with the minister's expiring breath" (234).
Wow. That was a different ending than I expected. I thought something more drastic and terrible was going to happen to Dimmesdale. I can't believe he just died after he confessed. This upset me because poor Pearl finally comes to know who her father is and doesn't even get a chance to spend time with him. I wanted Pearl, Hester, and Dimmesdale to run off and be one big happy family. I think he died after all of his sin was finally confessed, like he was following God's will. Afterall, this probably was the most logical thing to happen considering he was the minister and the people would not know what to do with him.
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at 09:08 PM | Comments (17)
September 19, 2005
Still After Hester
Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter (Ch 14-21) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
"Lastly, the inhabitants of the town...lounged idly to the same quarter, and tormented Hester Prynne, perhaps more than all of the rest, with their cool well-aquainted gaze at her familiar shame" 225).
After reading chapter 22, I figured Hester wasn't going to get off that easy. It seems like just when Hester thought she had everything figured out about leaving and confessing to Dimmesdale, that the town knocked her right back down. It was predictable and sad how everyone in the town was staring at her. Is Hester ever going to get a break? Why does Chillingworth have to be such a snake and make plans to go on the ship?
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at 08:24 PM | Comments (0)
Scarlet Letter 14-21
Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter (Ch 14-21) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
When reading one of the first parts of the next chapters, a certain line really jumped out at me and seemed louder than the rest. When Chillingworth is having an uncomfortable conversation with Hester, he says, "It is our fate. Let the black flower blossom as it may" (160). I think this is Hawthorne's way of telling the reader "they're going down together and things are about to heat up". I couldn't believe also that the townspeople were going to let Hester remove her scarlet letter. I think Chillingworth was kind of resentful about their decision because he feels she hasn't paid her dues. I think Chillingworth really wants to see other people, like Hester and Dimmesdale, suffer because he wants them to feel the same way he does, if not worse.
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at 03:24 PM | Comments (2)
September 14, 2005
The Scarlet Letter Ch.8-13
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at 12:56 PM | Comments (2)
The Scarlet Letter Ch.8-13
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at 12:55 PM | Comments (2)
September 13, 2005
The Scarlet Letter
Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter (Ch 1-7) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
I think Hawthorne is trying to make this story into a mystery by not letting us know who the father of Pearl is. As we talked about in class, all of the women in the village have the question hanging over their heads if their husband could possibly who Hester committed adultery with.
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)
September 11, 2005
The Scarlet Letter
After reading The Scarlet Letter thus far, I have a better sense of what the Puritan society was like. I think Hester represents a strong and intelligent woman because she accepts her sin and does not choose to leave the town where she has a deep past. I think Pearl, her baby, is going to develop more symbolism, other than a reminder of her sin, as the story continues. I didn't understand why Hester pressed Pearl against her when she was on the scaffold. "...she pressed her infant to her bosom with so convulsive force that the poor babe uttered another cry of pain. But the mother did not seem to hear it" (57). I can't figure out why she would almost deliberately hurt her baby, but did not hear it. Maybe she was squeezing her baby hard because it reminded her of her sin that she wanted to go away. Let me know what you think.
Posted by AshleyHoltzer at 09:25 PM | Comments (2)