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October 26, 2005
Huck Finn Huzzah!
Clemens, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (to Ch 24) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
"Cold corn-pone, cold corn-beef, butter and butter-milk--that is what they had for me down there, and there ain't nothing better that ever I've come across yet." (162)
This sentence made me crack up! Read it aloud. I was repulsed by what they were eating, even though I didn't know what it was, but this is his excitement. It might be the same way that some people, who shall remain nameless, really enjoy eating sandwiches with their family after church on Sundays. It's a simple tradition, but very important. These things are what he anticipates. He is ecstatic for this food, but the tone of the words doesn't make you think that. This might again play back to his family situation. Cold corn-beef and butter-milk are repulsive to me, but that comforts Huck Finn. Huzzah.
Posted by MeredithHarber at 08:29 PM | Comments (3)
Huck Finn
Smith, H.N. ''Introduction to AHF" (pp 323-344) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
"Huck is drawn ashore repeatedly, and repeatedly returns to the raft, but this apparent movement is merely an oscillation between two modes of experience, and the successive episodes are restatements, with variations, of the same theme: the raft versus the town, the River versus the Shore."
These two selections were more like essays about the text. This quote caught my eye, because I hadn't really thought about a connection between the river and raft and the struggle in life. I read this and thought about the students at SHU right now. We are all, in effect, oscillating (which is one of my favorite words, by the way) between our young, dependent lifestyle and our mature, entrepeneurial lifestyle. Huck Finn was struggling with his place in the world, which probably stemmed from his family life. I wonder though, why the words "River" and "Shore" are capitalized in this segment. I would guess this was his way of emphasis or personification. Thoughts?
Posted by MeredithHarber at 08:11 PM | Comments (2)
October 11, 2005
Emily D
Emily Dickinson (selections) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
"He traverses familiar,
As one should come to town
And tell you all your dreams were true;
He lived where dreams were sown."
This is a quote from Emily Dickinson's poem "In the Library." I really liked this poem. It talked about this "him" that leads people through unseen lands and voyages. The "him" is a book. This is an awesome thought! I mean, those posters that say something to the effect of: "Fly to outerspace, dive to the ocean bottom, and run with the lions...in books!" are exactly what Dickinson is saying here. She's commenting on the value of books. She personified a book, like she personified her garden in "I have not told my garden yet." I think this poem was about her death. It seems very pleasant, but that she doesn't want to let on that she's dying or the narrator is dying. I tried to find a year for this poem to see if it closely preceded her death, but it was in vain. I did find another poem of hers that was about death. I liked this more than some of the ones we read. Check it out
Posted by MeredithHarber at 08:30 PM | Comments (6)
October 10, 2005
Poe, round 2
Edgar Allen Poe (selections) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
"And every gentle air that dallied,
In that sweet day,
Along the ramparts plumed and pallid,
A wingéd odour went away."
I chose this selection from "The Haunted Palace." I really liked the emotions evoked in this poem. The words lent themselves to understand a deeper meaning of the work, while the imagery was enough to make you wonder! I wonder what is the Haunted Palace. It has yellow banners, red-litten windows, and lots of beauty. So...what is it? I would guess that it is actually a good place, with a bad name. Like, it's the "right kind of wrong." We look for faults in it, but find the beauty and majesty in something we've been told to run from. It's hard to be drawn to this. Simba and Nala were guilty of this crime when they visited the elephant graveyard in the Lion King. (I'm almost done). This idea of an evil beauty segways into the poem "Epigram for Wall Street." It's all about gambling. Granted, it's gambling with a suit and tie, and can be much more secure, but it is gambling. It's that evil beauty we all fight for. Why, oh why, would a person take their $200 paycheck and invest it. They could lose it all. They could multiply their profits. It's a game of chance. You take your chance when you invest and when you investigate the Haunted Palace.
Posted by MeredithHarber at 02:36 AM | Comments (2)
Edgar Allen Poe (selections) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
"And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain/thrilled me--filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;"
This quote caught me. I love the alliteration of "silken sad uncertain" and the rhyme "thrilled me--filled me." These words seem so passionate! The purple curtain caught me. Purple is the color of royalty and wealth. I don't really know what Poe's social standing was, but this makes him sound like a pretty popular guy. The "Raven" has to be something different. It's like the negative of every situation is lurking on your shoulder, or your statue. I've seen the Raven a few times this week. It seems like if you're in a good place, the Raven finds you and leaves it's "black plumes as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken."
Posted by MeredithHarber at 12:47 AM | Comments (2)
October 09, 2005
Trains, bees, and God, oh my!
Emily Dickinson (selections) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
In this collection of Dickinson poems, it was hard not to want someone to read these to you. These poems are flowing and elegant, but fairly understandable.
"I never spoke with God,/nor visited in heaven;/yet certain am I of the spot/as if the chart were given."
This selection is the second stanza of Volume 1, XVII. Like many other selections, this is something that strikes at my Christian core. I find it interesting that Emily Dickinson, the secluded author, was able to write such words about faith. It makes me wonder if she is being sarcastic. Like, "I've never been to Mexico, eaten Mexican food, listened to Mexican music, or have any Mexican relatives, but you know what? I am hard-core Mexican." Bad example, this I know, but I was trying to make a point. I don't know her views on faith, but this seems a little obnoxious to me. She could also be a really faithful person, just commenting on the beauty of her faith. Thoughts? Oh, and I'm posting separately for my other reaction item. Look for it!!
Posted by MeredithHarber at 05:52 PM | Comments (0)
October 04, 2005
Back to blogging, kids!
Thoreau, Walden (1854; selections) -- American Literature, 1800-1915 (EL 266)
"To enjoy these advantages I was ready to carry it on; like Atlas, to take the world on my shoulders--I never heard what compensation he received for that--and do all those things which had no other motive or excuse but that I might pay for it and be unmolested in my possession of it; for I knew all the while that it would yield the most abundant crop of the kind I wanted, if I could only afford to let it alone."
Thoreau's selection cannot possibly be about farming. I think this is his metaphor for life. We can do as much or as little with what we are given. Some of us are able to continually search for the perfect "land." Others continue to screw each other out of the life we try to achieve. I am always fascinated when someone alludes to Atlas. The concept of holding the world on your shoulders is so comfortable to me. There are definitely days when I feel like I am holding up the world; and, should I step away, it would go rolling down the tunnel, Indiana Jones-style. This passage also strikes me as being somewhat religious. "If I could only afford to let it alone." This is reminiscent of many devotional materials in the Christian church. It's so hard to let go and let God (or the world) run the course.
Posted by MeredithHarber at 02:04 AM | Comments (0)