Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Scarlet Letter Questions
1) Truthfully an introduction is meant generally as the entertainment portion of what it is a reader should expect. In no doubt is it informal. However, when an introduction does not depict what it is expected it dawns questions within the audience. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “Custom House” an introduction to his novel Scarlet Letter, taking actual literal meaning of words seems to be the primary concept. Hawthorne’s engulfs his introduction with in depth detail not to confuse reader, but to however cover up what it is he truly wants to say. When read once, the writer’s words are incomprehensible. Yet, when read over the author’s conveyed purpose is to make readers understand that, prior to reading the Scarlet Letter, there are things he wants to say,(and does say it) but must be said in a way that is presentable to the public.
No matter how deeply felt, there are things that can’t be said. However, it’s the readers job to find that meaning which is hidden in the context. The audience must generally keep in mind that at this time not all ideas were easily welcomed, meaning things remained dependency on tradition. Thus, the way things are done in the present, as the speaker writes in his introduction, reflects with the past. In the introduction a “Custom House” is implied as concept a building where these taxes are paid. However if the audience solely only depends on standard words the author’s purpose for writing won’t be fulfilled. In literary meaning, Custom is defined as a habitual practice, meaning that things are always done a certain way. “House is also interpreted as a building in which people live in or a building for any purpose. When mutually combined, a reader can notice that “Custom House” translates as another way of saying tradition.
2)Not many can be found that wish to have disgrace lit on their face. It’s not something that can be proudly worn either. On the contrary disgrace is detested, even if it means to be detestable to one's self to accomplish shunning away from shame. Readers discover while reading Hawthorne’s introduction that the author changes in telling the story contained in the dairy in which he found. Hester Prynne’s wrote the original words written in the dairy, in other words a woman wrote the words. The writer(author) is in no doubt has ancestral Puritan blood. Women are at the bottom of society in this time period. It would be an embarrassment to steal the words of a woman. Instead, in taking the words and elaborating it, and having the feeling that he made it better,proves more comforting to the author. Prynne receives some level of acknowledgement but not to the highest of which is due.
Amazingly, there is still at least a hint of evidence that there is some sought of credit given to Prynne. There is no other way than to bluntly say that women received a little or no recognition Should there have been a dispute the man will surely be victorious. The changes Hawthorne made significantly helps Hester Prynne in a way. Chances are she would have never been even recognized had her work not been “improved” by a man. Despite all this, the author also wants readers to understand without saying it that he does feel a sense of shame. His way of writing depicts a sense of pathos. How shameful and disgraceful is it that he seeks change, and in effort to do so, he must take the words of another. It’s a bond to tradition Hawthorne wants to break despite how it has to be done.
3)There’s no better way to gain attention than to please effortlessly. Interest lies in the eyes of an author. What is interesting to one may not be interesting to another. Just the same, that does not give permission to change. Individual’s write for different reasons and though some may have the concept to please that may not be the desire of others. When Hester Prynne wrote her dairy, there had to be a reason as to why it is she wrote what it is that she wrote. However, when stumbled upon by the author, there is change added to her words. The author seeks to make it more “interesting”. However, when looked at the author’s words, the concept seems that the author seems to merely please.
There’s a line between what it is that the heart wants, and another between what the public or others want. In Hawthorne’s case, he’s killed the heart in order to please and give the public what it is they want. After working on the Custom House and seeing nothing come nor go, the author seem to desire a change. There’s a message of a new enablement. What better way to get started than to start with a story that pleases both the public and his ancestors. The impact of a story determines it praise and adoration. There no question that those in these times declare this sense of praise and adoration. Thus, to acoomplish and justify this idea, the author changes the work of a lesser standard in society to raise his own level of change and happiness.
No matter how deeply felt, there are things that can’t be said. However, it’s the readers job to find that meaning which is hidden in the context. The audience must generally keep in mind that at this time not all ideas were easily welcomed, meaning things remained dependency on tradition. Thus, the way things are done in the present, as the speaker writes in his introduction, reflects with the past. In the introduction a “Custom House” is implied as concept a building where these taxes are paid. However if the audience solely only depends on standard words the author’s purpose for writing won’t be fulfilled. In literary meaning, Custom is defined as a habitual practice, meaning that things are always done a certain way. “House is also interpreted as a building in which people live in or a building for any purpose. When mutually combined, a reader can notice that “Custom House” translates as another way of saying tradition.
2)Not many can be found that wish to have disgrace lit on their face. It’s not something that can be proudly worn either. On the contrary disgrace is detested, even if it means to be detestable to one's self to accomplish shunning away from shame. Readers discover while reading Hawthorne’s introduction that the author changes in telling the story contained in the dairy in which he found. Hester Prynne’s wrote the original words written in the dairy, in other words a woman wrote the words. The writer(author) is in no doubt has ancestral Puritan blood. Women are at the bottom of society in this time period. It would be an embarrassment to steal the words of a woman. Instead, in taking the words and elaborating it, and having the feeling that he made it better,proves more comforting to the author. Prynne receives some level of acknowledgement but not to the highest of which is due.
Amazingly, there is still at least a hint of evidence that there is some sought of credit given to Prynne. There is no other way than to bluntly say that women received a little or no recognition Should there have been a dispute the man will surely be victorious. The changes Hawthorne made significantly helps Hester Prynne in a way. Chances are she would have never been even recognized had her work not been “improved” by a man. Despite all this, the author also wants readers to understand without saying it that he does feel a sense of shame. His way of writing depicts a sense of pathos. How shameful and disgraceful is it that he seeks change, and in effort to do so, he must take the words of another. It’s a bond to tradition Hawthorne wants to break despite how it has to be done.
3)There’s no better way to gain attention than to please effortlessly. Interest lies in the eyes of an author. What is interesting to one may not be interesting to another. Just the same, that does not give permission to change. Individual’s write for different reasons and though some may have the concept to please that may not be the desire of others. When Hester Prynne wrote her dairy, there had to be a reason as to why it is she wrote what it is that she wrote. However, when stumbled upon by the author, there is change added to her words. The author seeks to make it more “interesting”. However, when looked at the author’s words, the concept seems that the author seems to merely please.
There’s a line between what it is that the heart wants, and another between what the public or others want. In Hawthorne’s case, he’s killed the heart in order to please and give the public what it is they want. After working on the Custom House and seeing nothing come nor go, the author seem to desire a change. There’s a message of a new enablement. What better way to get started than to start with a story that pleases both the public and his ancestors. The impact of a story determines it praise and adoration. There no question that those in these times declare this sense of praise and adoration. Thus, to acoomplish and justify this idea, the author changes the work of a lesser standard in society to raise his own level of change and happiness.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Anne Bradestreet Essay response
Typically, a love poem displays the feelings and thoughts of one who is (or believed to be) immensely in love and ruptured with the desire for love. A conventional love story is often painted with eloquent words that describe an emotion that tries to describe an inner euphoria. For example, in William Shakespeare’s famous poem Shall I Compare Thee to A Summer’s Day? Shakespeare uses many comparisons and words of appeal and sensuality to convey the simple message of “I love you because you are beautiful.” However, in contrast to Anne Bradstreet’s poem To My Dear and Loving Husband a completely different use of imagery is displayed in context with her husband. The central piece of Shakespeare’s poem is a beautiful woman but Bradstreet’s poem does not focus solely on her husband, but reflects upon a love that it is complete when the two are entwined. The reader assumes that love to Bradstreet is something that must be held onto and a desire that must never be relinquished. As will be made apparent, the use of similes and imagery all combine to depict the writer’s surprising lack of pathos of what is meant to be a love poem.
Before beginning, however, we must keep in mind that Bradstreet is a Puritan woman from perhaps the same century as Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlett Letter. Understanding that Puritans dedicated their time to God, tried to live a “pure” lives which shunned evil and had quite simplistic lifestyles might help us better understand why they did not devote much time to love or the appreciation of it. Bradstreet’s Puritan background might help us better understand why there in an underlining tone of irony in the poem.
In opening, Bradstreet compares her husband’s love to depth that is supposedly immeasurable. It is a love that she “prizes…more than whole mines of gold” and it is so precious and priceless that “she cannot in no way repay” his love. Upon first glance, a reader might assume that Bradstreet is so completely in love with her husband that she cannot stop thinking and devoting her time to him.
The author however spends a greater part of the poem explaining how she is deserving of his love because she is equally priceless as he, perhaps even more. “Compare with me, ye woman, if you can” she writes, for she already knows the answer to this demand: there is none to compare her with. This poem then becomes a slight variation of a typical love poem because it uses more logos than pathos. Evidence of this is when the author writes, “my love is such that rivers cannot quench” instead of “your love is such that rivers cannot quench” to show that she is nothing without him. Her series of logical reasoning’s is centered on the fact that she finds herself deserving of her love, which may not been a typical Puritan woman’s attitude. So while similes and comparisons were used in Shakespeare’s poem to better exalt his ladies’ essence of exquisiteness, Bradstreet uses comparison to exalt herself as well.
In addition to comparisons there is also a great deal of imagery used throughout the poem to emphasize the author’s belief that she is worthy of her husband love for she herself is a rare gem. She uses adjectives such as “happy” to describe what a man should be with her wife when their “love” is to be. This is also a complete deviation of what a love poem usually is because the imagery consists of all things beautiful and pleasant in nature to contribute the innocence of love. It would almost seem that the image the author paints isn’t one of a love that is pleasant and peaceful but wanted and needed and perhaps even demanded.
As we can obviously then assume that Anne Bradstreet is someone quite to determined to get what she wants (and in this case needs) from her husband. The way she goes about acquiring it, unfortunately, is not entirely humble for someone of her class. To conclude, Bradstreet’s poem is an example of love that may seem smooth on the surface but has many unseen layers.
Before beginning, however, we must keep in mind that Bradstreet is a Puritan woman from perhaps the same century as Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlett Letter. Understanding that Puritans dedicated their time to God, tried to live a “pure” lives which shunned evil and had quite simplistic lifestyles might help us better understand why they did not devote much time to love or the appreciation of it. Bradstreet’s Puritan background might help us better understand why there in an underlining tone of irony in the poem.
In opening, Bradstreet compares her husband’s love to depth that is supposedly immeasurable. It is a love that she “prizes…more than whole mines of gold” and it is so precious and priceless that “she cannot in no way repay” his love. Upon first glance, a reader might assume that Bradstreet is so completely in love with her husband that she cannot stop thinking and devoting her time to him.
The author however spends a greater part of the poem explaining how she is deserving of his love because she is equally priceless as he, perhaps even more. “Compare with me, ye woman, if you can” she writes, for she already knows the answer to this demand: there is none to compare her with. This poem then becomes a slight variation of a typical love poem because it uses more logos than pathos. Evidence of this is when the author writes, “my love is such that rivers cannot quench” instead of “your love is such that rivers cannot quench” to show that she is nothing without him. Her series of logical reasoning’s is centered on the fact that she finds herself deserving of her love, which may not been a typical Puritan woman’s attitude. So while similes and comparisons were used in Shakespeare’s poem to better exalt his ladies’ essence of exquisiteness, Bradstreet uses comparison to exalt herself as well.
In addition to comparisons there is also a great deal of imagery used throughout the poem to emphasize the author’s belief that she is worthy of her husband love for she herself is a rare gem. She uses adjectives such as “happy” to describe what a man should be with her wife when their “love” is to be. This is also a complete deviation of what a love poem usually is because the imagery consists of all things beautiful and pleasant in nature to contribute the innocence of love. It would almost seem that the image the author paints isn’t one of a love that is pleasant and peaceful but wanted and needed and perhaps even demanded.
As we can obviously then assume that Anne Bradstreet is someone quite to determined to get what she wants (and in this case needs) from her husband. The way she goes about acquiring it, unfortunately, is not entirely humble for someone of her class. To conclude, Bradstreet’s poem is an example of love that may seem smooth on the surface but has many unseen layers.
Anne Bradstreet's Biography
Anne Bradstreet was born at Northampton, England to Thomas and Dorothy Yorke in 1612. Growing up, she was with little education. In her lifetime, women were not receiving the privilege to attend school. Fortunately for her, she was educated with eight tutors and also from her father. Like it should be for most, her father was always willing to teach her daughter new things. She was an inquisitive young woman which met her needs to thirst for knowledge. With her father a Steward, Anne was exposed to writing of well know authors. In 1628, she married Simon Bradstreet. Bradstreet and her family left England on March 28, 1630 to the New World in hopes to protect Puritan values. Though life proved to be very difficult, Anne managed to raise eight children and live through the hardships of her new life, and found comfort in her writing. Bradstreet received many criticism and cultural bias due to the fact women were believed to be intellectually inferior. Most critics believed she stole her poetry ideas from men. When her first publication of The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America was released, John Woodbridge, her brother-in-law, had to write: "By a Gentle Women in Those Parts" on the title page to assure readers that Bradstreet did not neglect her duties as a Puritan woman in order to write. There had to be clear evidence that Anne sacrificed her time to write her poetry. As she fought for what she believed, Bradstreet tiredly stresses in her woks the fact that women are worth something.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Cebeza De Vaca Visual
At first glance, there is no significance as to why this image is near related to Cebeza De Vaca. Perhaps not a second look either. However, this image does release a sense of insecurity. At some point Vaca must have reached an endless despair in which he could not ressureect from. "I beg that I may be recieved as homage, since it is the most one could bring in return thence naked." Cebeza began his voyage in hopes to not sustain bitter fate like Colombus. As he talked about the Indians, there was a particular time of the voyage where disaster followed every corner he turned. Facing countless times of death is enough to break any man. I chose a female figure to demonstrate how low Cebeza was pushed. I see the clothes on the character to have once been worn in elegance. Yet at this time in the image its the sorrow painted that matters and becomes more lively to a person upon viewing, not the beautiful wings or the clothing. Just the same, by the end of De Vaca's journey, there was nothing left for him, only despair.
Cabeza De Vaca
Time and time again the lessons we learn are through the mistakes of others. As in the case of Cabeza de Vaca, the 16th century Spanish explorer who set out soon after Christopher Columbus’s failure to win the approval of the English crown, sometimes all you need is someone to fall so they may be your stepping stone. Guessing from the previous statement, however; we can naturally assume that Cabeza de Vaca was no way a candid spirit. While the Spanish explorer may have had some difficult times during his expedition, his concluding goal was to emerge from his expedition with no blame attached to him. As explicit in his writing, the reader will discover that Cabeza knew the impact of his words and his ability to use his diction to its maximum potential.
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca had an eloquent way of playing with words to captivate pathos from those who would later read it. He is one who certainly seeks to please and evoke plausible imagery. For example, as he describes his travels throughout the newfound land in which they “went naked through” and “underwent fiercer hunger than among the Avavares.” De Vaca uses plain yet intricate diction to rivet the imagination and perhaps form a sort of sympathy from the reader. Having probably heard of Columbus’s disgrace, he may not have wanted to make the same mistake as Columbus and therefore kept his letters more to the details of what he was discovering than to what he was bringing back. As he wrote, “ambition and action” is his “advantage” over Columbus. These words written by De Vaca are meant to remind his Majesty of the disgrace Columbus brought. In other words he wants to prove that he is the complete opposite of Columbus and that he is not driven by aspiration, but only to please magnificent king by forgetting his own convenience in exchange. He offers humility so upon returning safely to Spain, he would probably be esteemed and awarded in some way for his effort.
Knowing that his Majesty was a strongly faith based catholic Christian; De Vaca is true to mention how he “kept [his] hopes in God.” Also, De Vaca sees himself as a “royal behalf” of the Spanish crown for surely he believed that even if he was humble to admit it; his years of exploration would come to some avail. It is therefore proof that his choice of words and the ways in which he paints the picture of his travel shows his excellent ability to capture pathos through use of imagery. As a result, this is a powerful display of the significant of words if properly used.
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca had an eloquent way of playing with words to captivate pathos from those who would later read it. He is one who certainly seeks to please and evoke plausible imagery. For example, as he describes his travels throughout the newfound land in which they “went naked through” and “underwent fiercer hunger than among the Avavares.” De Vaca uses plain yet intricate diction to rivet the imagination and perhaps form a sort of sympathy from the reader. Having probably heard of Columbus’s disgrace, he may not have wanted to make the same mistake as Columbus and therefore kept his letters more to the details of what he was discovering than to what he was bringing back. As he wrote, “ambition and action” is his “advantage” over Columbus. These words written by De Vaca are meant to remind his Majesty of the disgrace Columbus brought. In other words he wants to prove that he is the complete opposite of Columbus and that he is not driven by aspiration, but only to please magnificent king by forgetting his own convenience in exchange. He offers humility so upon returning safely to Spain, he would probably be esteemed and awarded in some way for his effort.
Knowing that his Majesty was a strongly faith based catholic Christian; De Vaca is true to mention how he “kept [his] hopes in God.” Also, De Vaca sees himself as a “royal behalf” of the Spanish crown for surely he believed that even if he was humble to admit it; his years of exploration would come to some avail. It is therefore proof that his choice of words and the ways in which he paints the picture of his travel shows his excellent ability to capture pathos through use of imagery. As a result, this is a powerful display of the significant of words if properly used.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Visual For Christopher Columbus
Disappointment demontrates the art of betrayal. This is a perfect visual which represents my stance on Christopher Columbus. Christopher Columbus happiness fell into place when he felt a sense of fufillment. Even though he was reaping what wasn't his, he delighted in it. However when the sudden realization came that he was unworthy of that honor, it felt like a stab. In his heart it was a betrayal. Reality hits faster that expected. "Stripped to the skin" (Colombus). That must been an unforgetting moment for someone who once dreesed in elegance and was loved by all. For a man with high hopes who thought all the world would hold a candle to honor his glory, the rude awakening must have been trully painful. So much so it felt like a stab to the heart.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Christopher Columbus Essay response
Every man’s strife is to be worthy of what society views them to be. For example, a farmer does not want to be just any farmer but the best of the bunch and be recognized for it. Even in history especially in English Literature, we find several figures of importance whose demise came with the greediness for definitive honor and fame. As in the case of Christopher Columbus, who viewed himself worthy of fame and yet was not meant to be in such a light, showed that to be worthy is every man’s heart desire yet it is not always easily accomplished. It is further proved that in order to complete the task or vision at hand, one must put forth a required amount of work. Happiness is only possible when a sense of fulfillment comes over one who has accomplished their ultimate goal. In contrast, however; when stripped away, it’s that of taking apart a person’s essence. Christopher Columbus proves this in his letters written in such exuberance and excitement that it is possible that he expresses no sense of the soon-to-be betrayal. Through realizing this concept, the speaker then announces to the audience that perhaps to be worthy may be every man’s vision, however the strive for that worthiness can prove insignificant when the reward isn’t equal to its labor.
To begin with, Christopher Columbus starts of on a tone of glee evident in his choice of diction. “All are most beautiful” he exclaims in attempt to please in his letter to Luis de Santangel. And yet for all his joyfulness, Columbus is not himself cultivating but reaping the fruits of someone else’s labor. In short, he brags. For example, in his proclamation to those in Europe he boasts joyfully saying, “I passed from the Canary Islands to the Indies with the fleet which the most illustrious king and queens, our sovereign, gave to me.” Christopher is not only, as they say, rubbing salt in an open wound but he is also doing it in a way that he knows is unbecoming of a royal on native land. As shown is choice of diction when he states, “I have taken position for their highnesses” Columbus thinks himself highly regarded and also worthy of the attention he thinks he is receiving. Now for one who might think of himself so highly in history fate would align him for a rude awakening which is exactly what Columbus receives when the situation is suddenly turned hostile.
Human emotions are often very vulnerable and in realizing this Columbus reinvents his tone and uses pathos to gain sympathy from his readers. As we will now discover Columbus’ labor did not match his worthiness as he did very little labor and dedicated more of his time to gloating. He now describes himself as a prisoner as he is “thrown into a ship” where he once might have strolled; “laden with fetters” when previously he wore elegance; “stripped to the skin” when once he had all he thought fame would give him and “very ill treated” when he should have been worshipped. For a man with such high hopes who thought all the world would hold in a candle of glory, the rude awakening was more painful that the thought of a moment’s stand in fame. The speaker takes time in his writing using pathos and diction to evoke sympathy from his audience. His emotional plea falls short of mercy as he is given what he gave to the natives of the new world; blind justice.
Worthiness follows with appreciation. When Christopher Columbus was ready to realize this, it is much too late and his fate may have already been sealed, although it is not mentioned in the text. It is a lesson to the readers: that we must pursue our goals at a pace that will ensure us humility and not bring us to such a point that we refuse to acknowledge what is and isn’t our own. While Columbus is worth mentioning in the history books, most of the time it is because some like to laugh at the mistakes he made and that he brought more trouble upon himself than he did triumph. Perhaps it is a lesson best learned only with a experience and a humane heart.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
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