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February 27, 2006
Portfolio 1
Portfolio 1 -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
This is my first portfolio for American Literature to showcase the work, mostly blogging, that I have completed throughout the course thus far. It will show some of the depth of my blogging, the discussions that I took place in, the interactions that I have made with my coursemates throughout the year, timeliness of my material blogged, and my ability to be a xenoblogger. The words in capital letters are to stand out and show what skill that individual blog is displaying that I have used. All of the following blog entries are on topics that were assigned, covered in class and entered on a timley fashion unless otherwise noted.
This is the first blog entry is Robert Frost's "Desert Places," that I was supposed to submit but was not yet knowledgable of blogging and waited to learn more about this process in class. The date and time on this blog will show that I posted it just recently. This is so that I could include it in my portfolio. Frost's Poems are all full of intricate detail that make what ever he is discussing feel so alive and all around me.
The next blog posted here in my portfolio is also a work of Robert Frost. Frost's "Mending Wall" was the first poem that I blogged about and began to learn exactly what the process of blogging was. Mending Wall broke the silence in the classroom and began to get everyone involved on what their thoughts were about this "wall."
David Lehman's "World Trade Center" Poem was very contraversial in the classroom. I had my own view points about the writing of this poem and why I thought that Lehman's work was of lesser value than Frosts. This blog shows a little more DEPTH to it because it was posted after the class discussion and after I had read the poem a couple more times.
The assigned chapters in Edgar Robert's Writing about Literature book have been very helpful in understanding what is expected for types of assignments that I have never completed before in other courses. This close reading chapter shed some new light on how I was to perform a close reading.
"Trifles" by Glaspell was my first favorite reading during this course. As you read on through my portfolio, I have a couple favorite readings!
A chapter by Roberts on Character that was an assigned reading revealed different ways that a reader can look at and view the characters within the writings. This chapter helped me take a better look at some of the characters in "Trifles."
"Bernice Bobs Her Hair" by F.S. Fitzgerald, my new favorite! I just think that this story is a prime example of how women act back then and now! We are all for ourselves ladies, lets just come out and admit it. Good for Bernice! This Blog shows that I put more time and DEPTH in to this story because I came back after the class DISCUSSION and blogged again about my thoughts that I portrayed in class.
The next blog entry in my portfolio is about Rice's "The Adding Machine." This particular reading I did not enjoy as much as some of the others, but I did find the conversation between Zero and Daisy to be quite ironic and funny.
Another writing by Roberts that I read and blogged about was his Chapter 10 on Symbolism. This helped me understand the difference between an allegory and a symbol.
The next entry I am including in my Portfolio is my thoughts on a writing about the author, Wallace Stevens. I liked reading Wallace Stevens work and I even chose to use his poem, "A Plot Against the Giant," for my poetry slam reading.
OOOPS! I forgot a blogging entry! Although I read this reading, I did not blog on it by the time I was assigned for the course. I entered my blog now so that I could include what my thoughts were on Roberts Chapter 13, Writing About Prosody.
I must have had a computer problem, or lost my brain on this day...A reading about William Carlos Williams and readings of some of his poems.
The next entry that I am posting here in my portfolio are my entries about the book by F.S.Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby and an article written by Kumamoto about F.S.Fitzgerald's book.
Chapters 1-3
Chapters 4-6
Chapters 7-9
Article by Kumamoto
This blog is about an Index in the Roberts Book that will be used alot by me in order to write in MLA correctly since I am used to using APA. This blog is also a XENOBLOG because I give a thankful reference to a peer that made the point to scan the Index pages for easier use!
A comment I made on another coursemates page about Wallace Steven's BIO. This is an example of my INTERACTION and ability to XENOBLOG.
Another comment about Robert's Chapter 10 on a peer's page showing my INTERACTION and XENOBLOGGING ability!
Another comment on a coursemates page about FSF's The Great Gatsby. This blog entry shows that I am INTERACTING and DISCUSSING!I also am using this blog entry as my WILDCARD blog. I am using this entry because in my comment I am not only taking into consideration the intial blog that was posted by writer, but also the comments by other students that the writer recieved and then I reacted to everything that I read.
After finishing my first portfolio and reviewing all of the work I have accomplished for this class, I am very pleased with how much I have improved on my blogging skills since the beginning of the semester when I had never even heard of a blog! I am becoming more confident with the material being discussed and have learned how to and what is expected. I believe my efforts can be seen by looking at my earliest posts and comparing them with my later blogs and comments posted on my page as well as others.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 8:54 PM | Comments (1)
William Carlos Williams
William Carlos Williams -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
"The critic Randall Jarrell had a compelling reason for calling William Carlos Williams 'the America of poets.'"
This quote shows that Williams is a great writer! I found through reading Williams poems that they are very detailed, intircate and some seemed more in depth than others. It seemed like some of them you really had to read and feel what Williams was feeling when he wrote the poem to try and find the meaning of it. I especially enjoyed Williams poem, Prelude to Winter, becuase it appealed to my senses of what I know and think about fall and winter and love.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 8:00 PM | Comments (0)
CHP 13
Roberts, Ch. 13 -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
"Most readers, when reading poetry aloud, interpret the lines and develop an appropriate speed and expressiveness of delivery, a proper rhythm."
This chapter by roberts helped me deliver my poetry slam reading by Stevens, "A Plot Against the Giant." Reading about sound, rhythm,and rhyme and the way these components are used within a poem helped me decide how I was going to read my poem. This chapter also showed me how much work goes into each and every poem, big or small, an author writes
Posted by TerraStumpf at 7:21 PM | Comments (0)
Frost, ''Desert Places'' (1936) -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
"A blanker whiteness of benighted snow
With no expression, nothing to express."
Frost seems to me to be describing the winter scene as if its bareness brings about cold and lonely times.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 6:32 PM | Comments (0)
Golden Eggs
Article: Kumamoto -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
"Roman feasts like Trimalchio's were a popular social institution where the host enhanced personal status by expending great care and effort on the visual sumptuousness of the food (Donahue; D'Arms 308-20). Moreover, hen's eggs were a highly prized item in the Roman diet, and fabulous public feasts were judged incomplete without various dishes of eggs, chicken, ducks, and other fowls (Smith 551-55; Macrobius)"
These two explanations of eggs and Trimalchio show how FSF could have been trying to elaborate on how Gatsby was trying to be the best and most envied character in order to catch Daisy's eyes again. After Reading Kumamoto's article alot of FSF's choices in his writing are becoming more clear and more connected with the story line.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 3:47 PM | Comments (2)
A prize...or...death wish
Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (1925) -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
"Daisy and Jordan lay upon an enormous couch, like silver idols weighing down their own white dresses against the singing breeze of the fans."
Chapter 7 page 115
I chose this quote because the words "Silver idols" describes Daisy and Jordon as precious prizes, but they description of them "weighing down thier own white dresses" seems to brign about the idea to me that they are not everything that they appear to be. That they are weighing down themselves looking for someone to help them bear the weight. Maybe FSF,meant to show how Gatsby viewed Daisy and ironically how Daisy was going to destroy or "weigh down" Gatsby.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 3:23 PM | Comments (0)
February 22, 2006
APA VS. MLA
Roberts, Appendix B -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
I am also used to using APA like Brenda....This is a good idea to scan these pages and use them as a quick reference to ensure that I am using the MLA style correctly. These pages will be a definite help!
Posted by TerraStumpf at 12:29 PM | Comments (0)
EYES!
Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (1925) -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
"Gatsby, pale as death, with his hands plunged like weights in his coat pockets, was standing in a puddle of water glaring tragically into my eyes."
Page 86, Chapter 5
The mention of eyes as mentioned earlier in class happens often throughout the book. Like the eyes of of the man in the library with owl eyes, the eyes of Doctor Eckleberg on the billboard and now gatsby's desperate eyes for the women he yearns for. I think that his desperate staring into Nick's eyes when he is standing at the front door is becuase he is looking at Nick for an answer or anything that would help smooth this reuniting with Daisy.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 12:21 PM | Comments (2)
February 20, 2006
The Great Gatsby
Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (1925) -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
"I hope she'll be a fool - that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool..."
Page 17, Chapter 1
I chose this quote because I find Daisy's feelings interesting. In her mind she hopes that her daughter is a "beautiful fool" because if she has to deal with infidelity when she is older like her mother is with Tom...then maybe if she is foolish, she will not realize it is happening and still be trusting and happily married. This is a different point of view that I believe women would have about infidelity in todays age because divorce is almost 100% more exceptable. But in Daisy and her daughters case, Daisy believes and perhaps wishes that she was foolish so that she did not know about her husbands mistress and then she would still be happy in her marriage. Daisy's thoughts show that leaving her husband because she is unhappy or angry with his actions is in no way an option. She would rathter be ignorant of the affair so her life could go on without feelings of insecurity and suspiciousness.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 1:54 PM | Comments (0)
February 12, 2006
Roberts Ch. 10
Roberts, Ch. 10 -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
" An allegory is to a symbol as a motion picture is to a still picture."
This is a great way of explaining how an allegory is more than a symbol. This line explains that an allegory is like a motion picture in that is reveals more detail and offers more meaning than a symbol like a still picture.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 9:12 PM | Comments (2)
Wallace Stevens
Wallace Stevens -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
"...A philosophical writer whose richly textured lyrics, consistently revealing new meaning and tonalities..."
Steven's seems to be a very literal writer but uses his writing technique to add layer, design and creativeness to his writings, even thought his words are to be considered like he is, a "disciplined businessman." His work will be interesting to discuss in class.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 8:54 PM | Comments (0)
February 8, 2006
Poetry Choices
Ex 1-2a: Poetry Analysis -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
I am choosing
Steven's "The Plot Against the Giant."
William's "Prelude to Winter."
Posted by TerraStumpf at 5:33 PM | Comments (0)
Adding Machine
Rice, The Adding Machine (1923) -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
"Zero: Maybe I'd marry you. You'd might be all right, at that."
I chose this quote because I love how the play starts off with Mrs. Zero rambling on and Mr. Zero has no chance to talk and then it goes to Mr. Zero's work where him and Daisy are having a conversation but not with eachother. They both are just thinking ideas out loud, rambling on, and neither of them is really listening to what the other says and ironically Mr. Zero says that he might marry Daisy, which was what daisy was thinking aloud yet the conversation never shows the two characters realizing they both said they would get married to one another. I also think it funny how daisy and zero's relationship is. It seems like they dont give a care in the world about eachother yet they both kind of like eachother.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 12:02 PM | Comments (1)
February 7, 2006
Chivalry is dead..."Bernice Bobs her Hair"
Fitzgerald, ''Bernice Bobs Her Hair'' (1920) -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
My thoughts when bernice stepped out of the barber shop and looked at Warren was..."Go to her you, fool! You know that her true beauty really isnt just in her hair." When he turns away and leaves with Marjorie, my diappointment set in. Men are pigs. ha. Then as I read on in the story and as Jay pointed out in class...If Warren had not walked away...The ending of the story would have been completley different. Bernice would have not learned a life lesson and would have not became the independent person she became by taking marjories hair and leaving the town. Great ending to the story, and for once I am glad the guy did not ride in as the hero.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 10:47 AM | Comments (0)
February 6, 2006
Mother's Know Best..."Bernice Bobs her Hair"
Fitzgerald, ''Bernice Bobs Her Hair'' (1920) -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
"Go to bed, you silly child," laughed Mrs. Harvey. "I wouldn't have told you that if I'd thought you were going to remember it. And I think most of your ideas are perfectly idiotic," she finished sleepily.
I found this line to be important to the story because it shows that the mother realizes her daughter's child like behavior and foolishness can lead her into "perfectly idiotic ideas." Marjorie's idea of getting back at Bernice for "stealing" a man that she was just using for attention, might have been a good idea in the beginning...but what did Marjorie think when she awoke and realized Bernice was not the only one who got a bob? Marjorie's cruel and unnecessary treatment to bernice was just what her mother said an "Idiotic idea."
Posted by TerraStumpf at 7:40 PM | Comments (0)
Writing about characters
Roberts on Character -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
"Always try to get from the outside to the inside, for it is the internal qualities of character that determine external behavior."
I chose this quote from Roberts chapter three on character because not only is this quote true for when writing or reading about characters but it also should hold true in real life when it comes to judging people. Roberts explains throughout the chapter that to determine ones character you have to acknowledge the persons traits. Traits not being actions or appearences but "habits of behavior" or "quality of mind." I think this is important to remember because when discovering a character you have to put appearance, actions, and biases on the back burner and really look for inner traits that piece together to create the character as a whole. This is not only a good technique of writing about character or reading and determining someones character in literature but could also be done in real life so that prejudices and biases would be minimized.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 6:37 PM | Comments (0)
February 1, 2006
Trifles
Glaspell, ''Trifles'' (1916) -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
"'Weren't you sleeping in the bed with him?' says Harry.'Yes,' says she,'but I was on the inside.' 'SOmebody slipped a rope around his neck and strangled him and you didn't wake up?' says Harry. We must'a looked as if we didn's see how that could be, for after a minute she said, 'I sleep sound.'"
The expert from Trifles was very interesting. I absolutley love how the men seem to patronize the women as they go about the house looking for clues in all of the wrong places! The first thing I thought when I read the quote above from this passage was..."I wish I could sleep like that!" I wake up at the sound of a pin dropping. I like this passage where the wife remains calm and collected standing by her decision that she was sleeping and did not awake. The reaction from the men is funny because they seem to be in disbelief but yet are trying to act like they could believe it for the lady's sake or possibly the sake of holding a conversation with her until the corener or sheriff arrive. I also enjoyed very much the humor that was put into the writing of something that was a serious matter. It was very comical and enjoying to me.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 3:47 PM | Comments (2)
Roberts on Close Reading
Roberts on Close Reading. -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
Roberts on Close Readings...
"Always assume that everything you find there is connected to everything else in the work, and then analyze and explain that connection."
Roberts points out that a close reading does not involve telling the plot of a literary work from beginning to end, but picking out the detailed and important pieces of a work describing their importance within the part of the work they appear and then als invesigating on their importance and connection with the rest of the work. I feel by analyzing and writing like this a person will get the most that they possibly can from a work of literature and learn how to become more succesful in analyzing and enjoying works.
Posted by TerraStumpf at 1:36 PM | Comments (1)