MeredithBenson

YEah

MeredithBenson — 2006-01-14T20:30:44-05:00

Well, I asked my brother how to do some things on this and this is what he did for me, haha. He's your basic computer genius and can do anything, and this is what he did for me. He even has his own blog/webpage.... www.myuberhome.com This is a website that is going to make you laugh. I like the one called An indepth look into Emo. i just realized that I was blogging haha. I really need to go back to school, the boredom is too much for me.

Golden Girl

MeredithBenson — 2005-12-07T14:20:57-05:00

I thought that this was very interesting to read. I really look up to her in a way because she did a lot of things she should have been doing considering the time frame. She kind of reminds me of Hester Prynne in a weird way because they both were very strong women that stood up for themselves. They were successful in life because of what they did and not what a man did for them. Ironically enough, trouble only seems to come to them when men are involved.

Booker T. Washington post class

MeredithBenson — 2005-11-17T14:09:48-05:00

In class I had mentioned about how i thought it was interesting how he changed his speeches to address who is audience was, whether black, white, or both. I actually admire his approach. Its very smart if you think about it. People were criticizing his approach because it was taken in small steps, but slavery had been going on for a long time and it isnt just going to end right away with no problems. For the most part, Booker T. kept both sides happy and thats just what he needed to do. Although, his approach did work, in the small little steps that it did, he did have lots of critics from his own race. But, for him being one of the first people in his position and doing things in a peaceful manner he did a great job!!

Of Mr. Booker T. Washington an dothers

MeredithBenson — 2005-11-16T17:19:17-05:00

In my previous blog i had mentioned how it seemed as if that there were cynics coming from both races and in the nect reading - Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and others, there is even more evidence to support this. "Amont his own people, howere, Mr. Washington has encountered the strongest and most lasting opposition, amounting at times to bitterness, and even to-day continuing strong and insisten even though largely silenced in outward expression by the public opinion of the nation." It is interesting to see how there are always disagree with an opinion, there is never a 100 percent support. Even the people of the same race even find ways to complain about what someone is doing even when it is good. People always find things to complain about...

Two Thousand Miles for a Five-Minute Speech

MeredithBenson — 2005-11-16T15:56:29-05:00

I thought that this was a very interesting piece of writing. I was surprised to read that was a fairly positive writing. I thought that it was going to talk about the troubles in his life an dhow he was so poorly mistreated. But, it wasnt like that at all. Not saying that he didnt talk about it, but he looked beyond that to talk about the fortunate things that he had in his life. He was a very respected man both respected by the whites and the blacks. His most important speech was that to congress and not the one that he was talking about in the end, according to him. Although, he was respected by both he seemed to have critics from both sides. Obviously, he was going ot have critics from the whites but there were blacks that were kind of cynical because they wanted to know what he was going to say and kind of wanted to make sure blacks kind of did take control, if that makes sense. I never knew that blacks, whites, women, and men were allowed to be together like they were presented in this era. I've always heard such terrible things about this era but it was cool to read about somethign that was good, because although bad times had been endured good times were coming.

Blogging Portfolio 2

MeredithBenson — 2005-11-13T18:18:58-05:00

Although, I did go through a period of time where my blogging and commenting wasn't as indepth, numerous, and timely as I wanted it to be I do think that my blogging has improved since that beginning of the year. I also try to look for interesting pieces in the literary works we are reading that not everyone notices or sees, sometimes I find interesting things and sometimes not.

Coverage - For my coverage blogs i thought there were a few that I could put under this one. The ones that particulary like are:

The Raven Uncle Remus and Walden .

Depth - After reading Uncle Remus I had immediately noticed the different layers the author used to tell the story. This link helped guide and further my thinking in the layers of the story.

Interaction - I was particulary fascinated with the Raven by Poe. I loved interacting with people and their blogs. The Raven blog by Jay Pugh, which even got me some feedback on my own blogs. Yes, it is true I got some comments.

Discussions - For the blogs underneath the discussion point I once again like The Ravenand also recently Uncle Remus . Apparently, those two were the only ones people liked. I did comment back on Uncle Remus on my site but for the Raven I went to others sites and commented on what they said on my site.

Timeliness - As I mentioned earlier I did have a little streak of a lack of blogging. Well, i blogged for everything but not necessarily in a timely manner. But, I did blog in a timely manner for the majority of my blogs. For instance, In a library, taste of Liquor, Silence, Epigram for Wall Street, The Raven, Walden, were some of the ones I did in a very timely manner.

Xenoblogging - I felt that for xenoblogging that I commented on a lot of people's blogs but i couldnt find many of them. One of them though comes from Ian's blog. I didnt get to actually start many people's blogging cmoments off but i did get invloved in the discussions.

Wild Card - Under my wild card entry I kind of had a hard time choosing which one I wanted to use. But, in the end i decided to go with Walden.

John Henry

MeredithBenson — 2005-11-13T14:21:46-05:00

Apparently, I never pressed publish on this entry and just pressed draft on it. John Henry was a typical heroine story. He was a hero to everyone (blue collar workers), he gave the people hope. Was he a martyr? Definitely, he died for what he believed in. It was ironic that he beat the machine and then died after beating it. Was John Henry real?? I think he's only real to people that needed hope and for others who dont need hope he is just a fictional character created to instill hope.

John Henry

MeredithBenson — 2005-11-13T14:21:46-05:00

Uncle remus Initiates the Little Boy

MeredithBenson — 2005-11-08T14:27:02-05:00

You really do need to read these stories aloud or they really wont make that much sense. I had some trouble reading Huck Finn, I was always hoping that Jim's part in the book were small so I didnt have to think about what he was acutally saying. I think this one was definitely a little harder to read than Huck Finn, although once you get past the words the story is quite simple.

I really dont know what I want to quote and talk about in this story because I dont really think that the story that is being told by Uncle Remus is actually the most important part. It is a cute little tale about how Brer Rabbit outsmarts Brer Fox in the end, though.

I did notice this though, when it says " she heard the sound of voices in the old man's cabin, and , looking through the window, saw the child sitting by Uncle Remus. His head rested against the old man's arm, and he was gazing with an expression of the most intense interest into the rough, weather-beaten face, that beamed so kindly upon him. "

I thought that this was interesting because the boy and Uncle Remus have a real bond. He puts his head on his arm and sits in his lap almost like it is a father son bond. Miss Sally almost knid of seems surprised because they way the nar. describes it it is like see is peering through the window supiciously. Either way, Uncle Remus tells a little tale that was probably told to him when he was child and so on, and now the tale will continue to flow through this boy and through this story.

Huck Finn Ending

MeredithBenson — 2005-11-08T14:19:31-05:00

Tom Sawyer - what a guy!

"Well that is a question, I must say; and just like women! Why, I wanted the adventure of it; and I'd a waded neck-deep in blood to - goodness alive, AUNT POLLY!"

The whole time Huck and Tom were reunited Tom was totally aware that Jim was already a free man and he never even once mentioned it until after the fact. He risked his life, Huck's life, and Jim's life, for a little adventure. Wow! He doesnt care about anyone but himself and his reputation. He'd rather lose his life or the lives of his friends to make his reputation better. His relationship with Huck is definitely not a good relationship, it basically is a relationship of manipulation. I think Tom, the duke, and the dauphin would have gotten along together real well.

Huck Finn 1-24

MeredithBenson — 2005-11-08T14:12:16-05:00

Throughout the entire book the most interesting part to me was the relationship between Huck and Jim. Here we have Jim and old man and Huck just a child that created an eternal bond. Their relationship seems as if it is even more powerful and real than any relationship Huck has had in his life, even more than Tom's (which seems trivial).

"It was Jim's voice - nothing ever sounded so good before. I run along the bank a piece and go aboard, and Jim he grabbed me and hugged me, and he was so glad to see me. "

This is such a good example of the love they have towards each other. I think if it was Tom and Huck, when Huck saw Tom Tom would have just made some kind of remark about how great the adventure was and how it was out of a book or something. Although, Jim and Huck have such a good relationship it is a relationship where Jim and Huck are on the same level. Although, Jim is much older and should be more respected he is not because he is black and a slave. But, this is the closest Jim has ever gotten to being treated as an equal, even if the equal is a young boy.

Poetry Slam

MeredithBenson — 2005-10-25T13:47:06-05:00

The Poetry Slam was actually interesting. I did think that this was going to be very exciting or interesting but it was. Although, we never did get out of class early. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN! Well, anyway although i thought that I kind of messed up my reading of Anabelle Lee everyone else enjoyed it, according to their little notes they left me. I do like the positive notes but i didnt get any criticisms or "critiques" to put it nicely. I know mine wasnt even close to being perfect, but i guess everyone else could have judged me better if they had actually had a good understanding of the poem. It was interesting that Lou had also choosen the same poem and we had somewhat of the same interpretation of the poem, which may be the first and last time that will ever occur. Lou's reading was definitely a little different than mine, but I'm not saying his was wrong or right, we just stressed different things and spoke in a different tone. His was a much more quiet and laid back tone whereas i think mine was a little more powerful, i tried to be kind of laid back but also expressing the fact that Anabelle Lee and her love were going to reunite and that their love was forever. I dont know if that actually worked out though.

In a Library

MeredithBenson — 2005-10-12T15:12:18-05:00

"A precious, mouldering pleasure 't is
To meet an antique book,
In just the dress his century wore;
A privilege, I think,"

I dont know if i am really reading this wrong or not but this is what i think of this poem. I just think that she is talking about how when you go into a library you can totally lose yourself. You lose yourself in books. Books can take you anywhere you go, they can make your dreams come true. It seems as if she has no one but her books which make her feel not as alone.

The TASTE of Liquor

MeredithBenson — 2005-10-12T15:06:07-05:00

"Inebriate of air am I, And debauchee of dew, Reeling, through endless summer days, From inns of molten blue."

I thought that this poem was really interesting and happy! I like happy things. Alcohol makes you feel great (most of the time), unless you drink a little too much. It makes you so happy, why do you think the irish drink when someone dies? Good ol' Irish wakes. But, Emily Dickinson isnt really drinking. The first line tells us that because the liquor that was never brewed. She seems to be drunk off of life. Which is a great feeling unless she is bipolar and this is her "happy stage", but otherwise this is a great feeling. There has to be something that makes her so happy. What is it?

Silence

MeredithBenson — 2005-10-09T22:30:17-05:00

"No power hath he of evil in himself"

I think that this is a great sentence in this poem. I think this is where Poe definitely strengthens his point in the poem. He is saying to take control of your life and face death head on. Basically, live your life and dont care about dying. Death cant control your life. Its death the last you're going to do in life so who cares! People get so scared of life that they dont live their lives.