Desiree's Baby link

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/DesiBaby.shtml#2

Custom House Questions

1) I believe the primary purpose for the Custom House introduction of the Scarlet Letter, was to establish the fundamentals of the book. Fundamentals create the basic knowledge of the book. Throughout the book it will continue to expand on what was already established to the readers in the book’s introduction. In the introduction we learn about the nameless narrator, the custom house, and the time period for which it was set. Personally I enjoy prefaces and introductions to book, because I attain a better understanding of the literature that I will soon be reading. Prefaces are written exactly for this reason. This is also to the author’s advantage, by establishing the common facts before hand, it eliminates the need to have to re explain what was already stated before the story began. This gives the author time to focus solely on the proceeding literature disabling the need for the author to backtrack.

The preface for The Scarlet Letter is one I have to admit I did not enjoy reading. Despite the fact of my love for prefaces, this one read as a history book. The custom house in my opinion came off as just a sad doom and gloom place made solely for prisoners and or Goths. “It was sorrowful to think how many days and weeks and months and years of toil had been wasted on these musty papers, which were now only an encumbrance on earth, and were hidden away in this forgotten corner, never more to be glanced at by human eyes.”(Hawthorne 27) I do however applaud Hawthorne for the visual that was placed within my head as I read his descriptions. As sad as they may have been they were descriptive, vibrant, and mentally stimulating. This is what I call art in text.

2) The Scarlet Letter was written in a way that the writer’s opinions could be expressed through the narrator. Perhaps this is why he is nameless; by giving the narrator a name he is giving him his own identity. This is usually why authors name their characters, when the characters have their own identity they can stand freely from their authors’. Perhaps Hawthorne does not want his character to stand freely, at least not at this time. I believe the change that occurs happens whilst the narrator reads over the newly found document titled The Scarlet Letter. Upon discovering The Scarlet Letter, the introduction becomes more concise, meaning as an audience we were able to catch our breath if you will from reading so much detail of the custom house if only for a moment. I feel that the purpose for him being more concise is because he wanted to make sure his audience would be able to clearly follow along with what he had to say, which infers that it is important.

“I must not be understood as affirming, that, in the dressing up of the tale, and imagining the motives and modes of passion that influenced the characters who figure in it.”(Hawthorne 32) Here Hawthorne is stating that the Story of The Scarlet Letter will be rewritten, however it will be kept closely to the original document as possible. Despite his Puritan ancestors’ beliefs in writing, the narrator proceeds to write with encouragement from the ghost of Mr. Surveyor Pue. “But, I charge you, in this matter of old Mistress Prynne, give to your predecessor’s memory the credit which will be rightfully due!” (Hawthorne 33). Instead of the readers reading the story as is, we will be reading it as the narrator re writes it, so technically it will be a story within a story. A change such as this needs to be acknowledged to the readers. It’s only in the readers’ best interest.

3) The changing of facts will change the basis of the book. Prior to the discovery of this document, we were given a plethora of descriptive facts of the custom house, and its history. From these descriptive facts, I assumed that the entire book will be based around events and people of the custom house. After realizing the change that will be made my opinion differed, now I feel that the book will be based around the narrator rewriting the book, instead of life at the custom house. In a way this change somewhat angers me. The introduction was solely based on the background information of the custom house, if the book will not be solely based around the custom house; what was the purpose of retaining useless information? I would have much rather read an introduction on Ms. Hester Prynne, and Mr. Surveyor Pue.

Despite the fact that pointless information was read, it is a relief to know the main point of the story. If the two segments are divided into before the discovery of the document and after, you will notice that it is a little more comprehendible after the discovery of the document. This could possibly mean that the book will flow more easily knowing that it won’t read like a textbook (before the discovery of the document). Before the document, the book was mainly based on giving facts and historical knowledge and not so much of getting into the thoughts and actions of the narrator. After discovering the document the narrator, became more personable. Readers could see that he was sensitive to how people felt about his writing, and also how much thought and care went into rewriting the document.

Vocab exercise #5 10pts

1) Abase: base,abs 14) Ascend: send, sea

2)Abate: tab, bat 15) Ascetic: sit, sat
3)Abstruse: set, rust 16) Audacity: city, audit
4) Abyss: bass, bay 17) Augury: rug, gray
5) Acuity: cut, cat 18) Auspicious: sap, cup
6) Affinity: fan, niffty 19) Austere: stare, set
7) Alacrity: clay, cry 20) Balm: lab, bam
8) Alchemist: chemist, chest 21) benevolence: love, been
9) Alloy: all, yall 22) Benign: begin, bin
10) Amendable: men, able 23) Betoken: token, bet
11) Antipathy: path, tip 24) Blighted: light, bed
12) Append: pend, pan 25) Buoyant: but, you
13) Arduoud: sour, sad

Stupid Time Consuming Puzzle

Across
1. changing gold to iron
2. close relationships that occur naturally
3. Mrs. Griggs set out to __ her squad to humiliate
7. kindness and generocity
9. used for good judgement
11. being excessively bold
13. add in a supplemtary manner
15. not causing harm
16. capable of floating
18. cheerful and peppy
20. feeling animocity
21. Destiny's Child did this long ago from under the stage

Down
1. following good advice
3. strict and stern
4. mixing metals
5. complex or complicate much like math
6. to give a sign of
8. something that gives relief
10. The floods in South Holland finally did __
12. very difficult task
13. omen or prophecy
14. destroyed or caused by decline
17. to be favorable
18. bottomless hole
19. leading a self denial life

De Vaca pic analysis

I came across this picture on the internet courtesy of Mendota Dakota.com, and once again Ms. Brown for letting us use the internet. I chose this picture with the Native Americans in mind. Throughout history, it seems as if they can never get a break. Someone’s either trying to take over their land, or turn them into slaves. The visual illustrates four Native American men holding weapons with facial expressions that seem to say “enough is enough”. The text under the pictures is absolutely true. The “Natives” have been fighting terrorism the longest, and had little to no weapons to defend themselves. This gets me to think about our government, we have so much modern technology, and even a plethora of weapons. Why is it that we handle terrorism so badly? We are still fighting a battle that occurred seven years ago with little efforts to show for it? I probably would understand this better if we at least had some results to show for it. I am in no means criticizing our government, I am just merely pointing out a flaw. Native Americans do not receive enough recognition for their strength and courage. Imagine what would have happened seven years ago, we become attacked with large crafts, and our only means of protection are arrows and spears, with little to no medical attention for those that become injured. This picture merely is a “what if” picture. What if the Native Americans had a better mean of protection? What if there weren’t any terrorists? Then just maybe therer wouldn’t be broken tribes and they wouldn’t make up such a small number in the American population.

Anne Bradstreet biography summary

When I think about Anne Bradstreet I think of a very talented knowledgeable woman
who has taken literature to an entirely new level. After reading two of her poems: To My
Dear and Loving Husband, and my favorite The Author to Her Book, I was very intrigued
and fascinated that a person could write with such emotion and color in only a twenty-
four line poem, because of her style of writing, I have found a new appreciation in
literature. Anne is a true inspiration to women young and old who have dreams of
becoming an author. The fact that the poem was written in the 1670s is very inspirational,
this was during a time where as a woman you didn’t have much of a voice. In my opinion
Anne is one of the most influential authors in America. Her writing style is one that is
very logical, and beautiful. Reading one of her pieces you can tell that much thought and
patience went into making a beautiful piece of art. Literature is art in letters. It captivates
the eye, and stimulates the mind. I hope that I can do her justice with my own writing,
because she has paved the way for me.
Born to her parents Dudley and Dorothy York in 1612 no one knew the impact that
she would one day have on literature. Growing up in Northampton, England her parents
made sure that they raised a well educated young woman. Two years after she married
twenty-five year old Simon Bradford at the young age of sixteen, her family immigrated
to America. They were transported on one of the first ships that transported the Puritans.
This ship was called the Arabella. Throughout the harsh journey many lives were lost do
to the unbearable climates, and poor living conditions. Anne found this three month
journey very difficult, but passed the time by tutoring various subjects such as history and
literature. Upon docking Thomas Dudley and John Winthrop organized a government to
help pull the people through such hard times, however Anne turned to her faith in God,
believing in her heart that He would remain by her side. With poor living conditions
Anne attained smallpox, which made her grow very ill, however she was determined to
pull through making a house for herself and her eight children. Anne’s husband came into
land and social standing, which greatly helped them in the hard time when their house
was burned by a fire, causing them to lose everything. Anne’s husband was very involved
in politics which enabled him from being home often. This resulted in Anne remaining
alone for large quantities of time for days. As on the boat she passed the time by teaching,
and passing on her knowledge and wisdom. She taught her children just as her parents
had educated her when she was young. It wasn’t long before Anne discovered a love and
talent for poetry. She shared it only with close friends and family for it was forbidden for
a woman to be intellectual. Anne Hutchinson, one of her dearest friends was banished
from their colony when speaking out against religious beliefs. John Woodbridge, her
brother in law secretly transported her poetry back to England without her permission
where it was published into a book titled The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung up in America,
By a Gentlewoman of Those Parts. This was the last poem of hers to be published while
she was alive. After the publication she contracted tuberculosis and proceeded her
daughter Dorothy in death in September 16, 1672 at the age of 60. We can find comfort
that she died at the birthplace of her poems, in Andover, Massachusetts. “I am obnoxious
to each carping tongue/ Who says my hand a needle better fits,/ A poet's pen all scorn I
should thus wrong/ For such despite they cast on female wits. . . .”(quote by Anne
Bradstreet)
http://www.annebradstreet.com/anne_bradstreet_bio_001.htm-link

The Author to Her Book response

I am a person who truly appreciates a beautiful and creative piece of literature much
like a poem. The Author To her Book, is by far one of the most well thought out,
compelling, and analytical poems I have read by far. Understanding the poem requires
deep thought and understanding which really appealed to my logic. The Author to Her
Book is a poem that tells about a young woman’s relationship with her father, mother,
and the streets of which she will soon be forced to live. Throughout the entire poem she is
explaining to readers how she feels it is her fault that her father left, leaving her mother
for poor. “Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain, who after birth my side remain”.
(Lines 1 and 2). Here she is saying that as an infant her brain was feeble, basically saying
she did not have much knowledge and was not capable of doing anything stupid or
offensive to her family, this is why her father remained at her side. In lines 8 and 9 she
refers to herself as a brat, which she explains as being the reason her father would not
return home, even for her mother’s call. She didn’t feel her father was fit for light, so she
chose to view him in the dark therefore masquerading the scars which she metaphorically
used his face to display them. “I washed thy face, but more defects I saw, and rubbing off
a spot still made a flaw.” The young girl is stating that her father has so many flaws and
problems, that by removing one in turn you are surfacing another; if she could mend his
scars she would, but she knows that deep inside the scar must be internal. “I stretched thy
joints to make thee even feet, yet still thou run’st more hobbling than is meet.”
Apparently she is stating that she has been bending over backwards to keep her father
from running away from her again, by stretching his joints she is saying that she is trying
to better the problems that exist, it’s kind of like putting someone’s head on strait, you
don’t actually physically do it. “In critic’s hands beware thou dost not come, and take thy
way where thou art known; if for thy father asked; say thou art known; and for my
mother, she alas is poor, which caused her thus to send me out the door.” This is one of
the most powerful lines within the poem. This is the ending where she is no longer
reflecting on her past. She is stating that her father is ashamed to be critiqued by his peers
and neighbors, and flees to a place where he will not be known leaving behind his wife
and daughter. Her mother is poor, and has no job, and cannot afford to maintain her
daughter. Deciding that her daughter is old enough to fend for herself, she forces her
child, life, soul, and offspring into the cold night.

This poem is short, however is very powerful, and well written. One very well used
literary device used throughout the entire poem, is foreshadowing. Reading the poem the
events that are occurring are not happening as the reader in reading along, she is
foreshadowing on past events so that the readers will understand her better at the ending
when she reveals what actually ends up happening in her life. Thus the title The Author to
Her Book. She is narrating her own life; she is the author to her own life. Everyone has a
life, just like everyone’s life is different; this is much like a book. Everyday we write a
new page in our lives, and hope that one day we’ve written it well enough that the most
important reader who receives the final copy finds that we have written it well. I guess
metaphorically speaking God is our Editor in Chief and gets the final word. The diction
used in this poem was excellent, and gave the reader a clue of what time period the events
took place. I would say sometime during the Middle Ages, when everyone spoke broken
English. I came to this conclusion by the word choices such as thy and may’st, and the
fact that she referred to her clothes as rags. According to the caste system the lowest
people wore “rags”, while purple and the finest colors and fabrics were reserved for
royalty. The tone of the piece is sympathetic, which correlates to the appeal to our
emotions. You can’t help but feel bad for the young woman whose father has left her life,
and who feels it is all her fault, and whose mother made her leave their home. I know that
she is a young woman, because her mother decided it would be ok to leave at her age.
Surely she wouldn’t put a three year old out, and surely a three year old wouldn’t be able
to speak with great emotion and understanding, also she had already reflected on the
younger years of her life. This makes the author very credible although this poem is a
piece of fiction, but based off of true emotions, it is more believable to have a young
woman narrate her story, then have a three year old narrate her life, when three year old
has not received much education to even know what’s a narrator. Overall I felt that this
was a great piece of literature, and I recommend it for anyone looking for something
stimulating, and beautifully written to read.

De Vaca response

Upon reading Cabeza De Vaca I released an exasperated sigh. The title alone in my
opinion screamed TEDIOUS! Despite what I thought, I knew this text would have to be
read, however much to my surprise I ended up enjoying the piece of literature. Alvar
Nunez is a young explorer similar to Columbus, in that he was determined to reach a
goal and he was a poor leader. Cabeza De Vaca (family surname) was given to the
family, after his ancestor used a cow’s head to mark an unguarded mountain trail. Alvar
was very interested in upholding the prestigious family name; He became a fearless war
man and provost mayor (navy leader) who would soon overtake Florida. The preface
included much of this background information, and even included colorful dialogue
appealing to diction in an attempt to bring creativity and color to the text. “Christian
slavers” as he acerbically called them (Preface third paragraph). Instead of using another
word such as bitter, or hostile, the author uses colorful words to give the audience an even
precise picture of De Vaca such as acerbically. By using select vocabulary you think
beyond the tone of voice, and begin to think about the overall body language and facial
expressions of the character. How does someone who is mad appear and sound, vs.
someone who is enraged? Ethos is the appeal being used, which appeals to the character
and our sense of imagination. Descriptive words encourage audiences to better envision
how the character reacts in that moment. This can also be an appeal to logos, in order to
figure out what the words mean, using the context and making logical guesses help depict
the author’s point that he/she are trying to get across. The author attempted to put the
image in our head of De Vaca being an arrogant, vicious ruler, and for me that goal was
achieved.

It is difficult for me to feel that the author is credible, because there are no sources
stated, or publishers mentioned, which makes me contradict myself when I say that I
believe the facts in this text. Although the author is not credited, there are many facts and
dates that support his case. Although the author is unrecognized the editor and publisher
are mentioned which also contradict my argument that the facts are credible. Over the
years facts are change, and they are more vulnerable to change when they are being
translated. The story of the Malhado was translated, however withholds many key facts.
Schemes were used to manipulate the audience into feeling sympathy for the Indians. The
schemes were executed by explaining their only means of protection, and the fact that
they were forced to drink bad water. The schemes were instrumental in carrying out the
author’s purpose of showing that the life of an Indian is bad enough without someone
trying to over take their land. Deaths occur by the hundreds, and they basically had to
fight and strategize to stay alive. (They joined another tribe the Arbados, who astonished
us by their weak, emaciated, swollen conditions.)

In the ending paragraph the Indians are made to appear even more helpless. The
Christians have now arrived and begin to make the Indians very apprehensive. This is
another scheme of sympathy or ethos attempting to get the audience to feel the pain of the
Native Americans. The Christians attempt to make the Native Americans slaves, by
befriending them which sets the tone for deceit. We end the passage as we began it,
feeling sorry for the Native Americans. (Thus we often misjudge the motives of men; we
thought we had effected the Indians’ liberty, when the Christians were but posing to
pounce.)

Columbus pics

These are the Columbus pictures in order.

Columbus Picture

Brittany Middlebrooks
Per.11 9/08/08
Ms. Brown

Analyzing Columbus Picture
Everyone knows the story of Columbus how in “1492 Columbus sailed the ocean
blue”. Well as true as that is Columbus wasn’t the first let alone the only to sail that ocean
blue. So why is he accredited for doing such a deed as great as discovering America,
when America in itself had already been discovered? We know how Columbus must feel,
full of pride, and accomplishment, but what about those brave explorers who came before
him? I would imagine that they would feel cheated, and very remorseful. I have chosen
two cartoons which I have found online, courtesy of www.OfftheMark.com by Mark
Parisi, and Ms. Brown for allowing us to use the internet. I have chosen two visuals,
because it’s so like me not being able to pick just one. Firstly you will see a visual of a
young man turning in a paper only to have his teacher remind him that it had been
plagiarized. Christopher Columbus “discovered” America, and at the time thought he was
the only one to ever come across this land, however when coming across the Native
Americans you would think that he would actually begin to think he wasn’t the first to
come across the continent. By the time Columbus arrived the Native Americans, were
probably thinking exactly what the teacher is communicating to the young man in the
cartoon.

Secondly, if you avert your attention to the next cartoon, you will see the visual of the
fifth Teletubby, whom does not receive the same recognition of that of his four other cast
mates. Although he probably has the most gruesome job, being a toilet plunger and all, he
feels remorse, because he’s constantly in the backlight. This is similar to the explorers
who constantly had to live in Columbus’ shadow. How would you feel if you discovered
the cure for cancer, but so many years later someone else found another cure, and they
were credited and received their own holiday while you received nothing? Many years
later Columbus is still receiving credit for his works, despite the fact that it has been
proven he is not the true originator of finding America. Just as he maintained journals and
letters throughout his journey, I would assume that other have also. Why haven’t any of
them been published, and if they were, why do they not receive the same recognition?

christoper columbus response

Christopher Columbus
Upon beginning the text it became evident, that it was not written by Christopher
Columbus, the man whom which the text is speaking. Automatically the author lost my
sense of trust in his facts. Toward the end of the opening paragraph it was stated, “The
supposed Journal of his first voyage is actually a summary prepared by the cleric and
reformer Bartolom’e Casas. A letter sent by Columbus to Luis de Santangel, a royal
official and an early supporter of his venture, provides a more authentic account and
served as the basis for the first printed description of America, issued in 1493
in Spain and served widely translated and reprinted across Europe.” If his voyagers were
constantly being translated and the facts were not coming directly from the source
(Columbus), why should the author be creditable? However the opening text is very
knowledgeable and informative, which leads me to infer that although the facts may not
be exactly legit, a lot of time and effort went into making sure that it was historically
correct as possible. The purpose of the text is to inform the audience about a young
explorer engaging on voyages, while documenting his events.

The second paragraph was a letter regarding the first voyage from Columbus to Luis
de Santangel. Santangel was a merchant and court official who supported Columbus’ first
voyage. I was more lenient into trusting the author’s credibility, because Columbus
wrote the letter versus an author publishing the letter. Meaning that the letter contained
his thoughts, feelings, and opinions. All of which cannot be proved as wrong simply
because they are not facts. When an author publishes a text instead of writing it, makes it
harder to validate the true source. His appeal to exigence is appropriate, because he wrote
what he truly experienced. When writing the letter he was only writing to one person in
particular, which was a man who highly supported his journey. Had he written to a man
who completely went against and disregarded what he was trying to do would be a faulty
appeal to exigence. In the end you must appeal to your audience, and by being very
Descriptive, making his reader feel as if he were on the boat was a wise and thoughtful
tactic. Columbus gives us reason to believe that what he has written is not faulty, because
he includes the facts to reimburse his statements. It’s more likely to believe that someone
is on a voyage when they can identify where they have been, and life on the journey. This
makes him all the more credible, despite the fact, that these events occurred many years
ago which would allow multiple opportunities for the text to be manipulated.

simile

A Cherokee Princess White Flowering Dogwood like a diamoned snowflake.