BLOG ON MS.BROWNS BLOGGING

Ok I have decided to blog about Ms. Brown's blogging. Where are the blogs?!?!?! I don't know about anyone else, but I have the attention span of a 4 year old, and the memory capcacity of a 70 year old, with very selective hearing. So it's needless to say that I need those blog postings.
=( If anyone else feels this way blog about her blogging, and we'll see if that changes everything. Ms. Brown we love you dearly and everything, but to put it nicely...you're slipping up...I NEED THOSE BLOGS!!!

Kate Chopin Biography Response

Kate Chopin is the author of The Story of an Hour, written in the 1890s. She was born the third of five children in St. Louis, Missouri in 1850. Out of the five she was the only child to live past the age of twenty-five, which is still very young. To go through that many deaths of people that have a special place in your heart, is bound to take a drastic effect on a person. Kate also lost her father at the age of five and a half, as a result of his train crossing a collapsed bridge. She dispersed from the Sacred Heart Academy and left to live with her widowed mother, grandmother, and great grandmother for two years. Growing up in the Civil War, this was a time when women still did not play a much significant role in contributing to not only economic, but the academic advances of society. Chopin grew up around independent, intelligent woman, and went on to be the top of her class at the Sacred Heart Academy. Being a woman of intelligence in that time, it was fairly easy to argue the logic behind the theory of religion. Chopin’s grandmother died three days before Christmas, the same year her dear friend Kitty was banished from the colony. In addition her father had passed on All Saints Day. This left a major doubt of religion in the mind of Chopin.

Kate married Oscar, a man similar to herself; in the aspect his background included the French Catholic religion. He truly loved his wife, and was inspired by her intelligence, unlike most husbands of this time period he chose not to silence his wife, but to embrace her unheard freedom. Most men silenced their wives, and confined them to rooms like a china doll confined to a shelf neglectfully becoming darker from the dust of the passing days. Kate proved herself to be a strong woman, after bearing seven children, and moving back to Oscar’s old home, where he died of swamp fever. Kate was left to take over the general store, and plantation. She was truly a fearless independent woman, who soon sold her business, and entered the world of writing, where she supported her family through her talent, through the release of her first successful novel, At Fault.

Kate Chopin was among the strong independent intellectual women of her time. One of her most popular works, is titled “The Story of an Hour”, although it is not lengthy, it is a powerfully impacting story. Kate Chopin’s biography heavily reflects her style of writing. She basically described the life of a woman growing up in her time period. Including the emotions of insanity up until the point of which freedom will soon be drawn. The main character is a woman who is oppressed by her husband, as wives of that time period were confined. Every woman who dwelt under their husbands, felt the want to break free to get their freedom, or probably even hoped that they would just one day drop dead. In this story Chopin gives her character that opportunity. Her character realizes that her husband has passed, and immediately this sensation takes over her body and she begins to cry uncontrollably. At first note, it can be inferred that she is crying, because she dearly loved her husband, however how can you love the one that oppressed you. Did slaves love their masters, simply because they sheltered them? To say that this woman’s “joy” over her husband’s death is selfish is a false inference and the pain of such an event must be felt first hand before being concluded. Through her literature Kate was able to give females the voice they didn’t rightfully own. Their thoughts were condemned to their minds, this is most likely why the main character goes through a lot of her emotions internally, and also shows them in a pathotical sense, rather than an ethological one. Kate gave women the voice that was forever shadowed, and we appreciate her for the voice we have today.

The Story of an Hour [Questions]

1) “Veiled hints that revealed in half concealing.” I chose this phrase, because I really like the elaborate wording, to describe something so minute. Instead of describing them as secrets, they are termed as veiled hints, which in turn is very poetic, and helps add to the suspenseful tone.

2) “As a child who cried itself to sleep to sleep continues to sob in its dreams.” This quote appealed to her inner feeling of vulnerability. Like an infant, they are helpless and very often cry themselves to sleep. When they “cry in their dreams” in a sense of speaking they are taking their innocence into sleep with them. I feel the author is saying that she cannot escape her problems through her dreams, because your dreams are the essence of your life.

3) “Free, free, free”. This phrase is very impacting, but yet comes off as a lighthearted joyous emotion. The feeling of oppression has left her and she is now free to be her own person. Although simple this simplistic phrase carries much meaning, and importance.

4) “She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat t back with her will.” This phrase foreshadows the ending to the story. Here she is recognizing that something is going to come upon her, but her want for freedom is what keeps her striving to stay alive.

5) “They said she died of heart disease-- of the joy that kills.” This phrase is the closing of the story. It was very impact to relate a medical problem as the joy that kills; I felt that it was ironic, because joy is not something that is supposed to lead your downfall. In the end she was killed by
the overwhelming excitement of her joy.

Questions:
1) Why did she die when she saw her husband?
2) Why was her death, the joy that kills?
3) When the character was saying “free, free, free” was she saying that she is being freed from her body?
4)Why was the story mainly focused on the character’s actions, more than the emotions.

Disturbia *L0v3 thiis M0vi3*

In Disturbia directed by D.J. Caruso, a young boy named Kale played by Shia LaBeouf is placed on house arrest, after starting an altercation with his teacher when a smart remark about his deceased father has erupted. The beginning of the movie is basically an introduction, or the foundation for the rest of the picture. The events predominately revolve around Kale and the antics he performs while on house arrest. In the beginning Kale’s neighbor Robert Turner, although a minor character at the start of the movie, greatly caught my attention. Kale watched Robert Turner out of his window, and forms the accusation that Robert is a Texan murderer; and sets out to solve this case. In the beginning we find Robert cutting his grass, and remaining to himself, this gives the impression, that he is a hard worker that chooses to be left alone. This added an authentic appeal, because most middle aged men reach a point in their life when they are ready to keep to themselves, and work alone. Mainly Turner lingered within his garden, or his garage, where it became apparent he was a violent man, when he snapped a rabbit’s neck in his garden, and when animal skulls were found in his garage. This added to the sense that Turner was violent, and willing and ready to kill which added to the thought of the audience, that he could truly be the killer. The evidence displayed set Robert up to be the main antagonist.

Ain't I a Woman Comparison

In 50 Essays, Sojourner Truth’s Ain’t I a Woman, the speech was greatly edited. Even the title was changed to be grammatically correct. The 50 Essays book focuses more so on grammatical accuracy, than historical accuracy. When they took away the historical accurateness, they took away her personality. Ms. Truth did not speak as a proper woman who wanted to speak out against women’s rights; she spoke as an uneducated African American woman who came to “tell it like it is”, while at the same time maintaining her grace, and dignity. The original speech is more believable, and relatable. The way you speak resembles the embodiment of who you are as a person. In her original dialect, it is as if she knows that she is uneducated, but she is not ashamed of it. She is here to deliver a message, and despite what you feel about her she’s going to accomplish her mission. By masking her speech in the 50 Essays book, they basically masked her roots, and took away the sense of pride that was felt as she spoke. To get up an speak out against a controversial topic as an African American woman, with inadequate speech techniques, but yet you bring the audience to their feet, gives a sense of pride not just for African Americans, but people who are shy or have their own obstacle(s) to overcome. It also masked her roots in the sense that you were not able to tell where she came from. It decreased knowledge of her background. The only clue that we could use from where she originated would be either the description, or the description of how she looked, which the main clue would be her skin color.

Devices in Slavery Douglas/Jacobs..(did u hate this as much as i did UGH)

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl moved me being a young African American female. The stories from Harriet Jacobs were very moving and affective the way they were written. The events took place in the 1820s, as she grew up on a plantation yearning for her freedom. The preface and autobiography gave a greater meaning to the story. They allowed the reader to establish a relationship with the narrator through an appeal to ethos. It’s hard to strike compassion for a person that is unknown to a you, versus someone in which you have in a sense watched “grow up”, as you read the passages. The better you understand their struggle the more you become connected to the story; meaning the author has captured your attention. By capturing your attention through the character, the author is appealing to pathos. Establishing an emotional bond with the characters allowing for growth in both the characters and the audience. While reading the childhood, and the lover, I couldn’t help but to reflect on how I would feel in those situations. Thus causing me to grow in a sense of speaking with the characters.

Jacob’s told her story to the audience in one of the most moving ways, by telling her own story. By being honest and by telling of your actual events creates a sense of trust and credibility within the author. However during the preface to Harriet Jacobs, in the introduction by the editor it was stated, “At her request, I have revised her manuscript; but such changes as I have made have been mainly for purpose of condensation and orderly arrangement.” This contributes to the honesty of the author by admitting yes the manuscript was revised, but kept true to its original nature. The audience is anyone who chooses to relate to the story of a young slave girl growing up without parents, one day being denied of her true love. The book was aimed at African Americans of the modern age, under the inference that African Americans in that time period were not privileged in reading or writing.“ While I was with her, she taught me to read and spell; and for this privilege, which so rarely falls to the lot of a slave.”(Childhood) Similar to the writing of Harriet Jacobs, Frederick Douglas, attempts to make a connection with his audience. However his approach is in the form of a narrative, meaning he is directly telling is own story. While in Jacobs account, she tells her story, but then pauses to indirectly acknowledge the audience “"Reader, did you ever hate?" (Jacobs) In both stories, Douglas and Jacobs lose their mothers at a young age, striking a similar emotion within their audiences. Likewise references to the skin were made. “My mother was a darker complexion than either my grandmother or grandfather. My father was a white man.”(Douglas) “In complexion my parents were a light shade of brownish yellow, and were termed mulattos” (Jacobs). This leaves the belief that your skin color determined your social status in life. The storied may be different, but the plot is all the same. Jacobs and Douglas are two distinguished authors, with similar styles contrasting them.

In both prefaces, under slight research, it is proven that both authors are white. In a way it’s sort of ironic that white people are writing the prefaces to stories about slavery, and oppression. It is also ironic that they had such close relationships with Douglas and Jacobs when it was shameful to befriend a person of color. The fact that there are white authors contributing ideas to a sensitive African American topic is a loss of appeal in ethos. African Americans were giving the opportunity to bond over the shaping of their culture, but then slapped in the face when the white authors put in their two cents; even if it was just in the preface. It would be awkward for a white author to try to relate and establish a relationship with an audience whose ancestors they once inflicted pain upon. It’s plausible, that white authors were used to attract an audience to the book. People of color had to money to purchase the publication, let alone have the money to publish it, or the skill to read the manuscript. Therefore it had to be sent with the advertisement of someone not of color.

Poets Corner

I chose the Negro spiritual titled Old Man River, best sung by Paul Robeson; a famous negro spiritual singer of the 1930s. I think my version of the spiritual brings upon a different tone. The song Old Man River is about a man named river who throughout troubles continues to roll along. It appears to be that nothing can stop him. The Mississippi River is symbolically Old Man River, symbolizing the freedom of the water floating to safety. Being translucent so that any obstacles or blockages are quite easily “rolled” over by this strong river. In my version however, the Old Man River faces hardships and doesn’t go through them easily. This creates a variation of the tone.

Been out here long, the whole long day
Wipe your brow
Keep your spirits up an don’t them sway
Your Massa’s cumin
That rivers slowing
Getting weary
A lynchins nearin
Will my river keep rollin along?

Self Reliance...ugh

Firstly, I would like to start by saying that I was very unhappy to read this monstrous packet called an essay. Self reliance was the title of my fiend. I sat and stared at it and thought, groaning internally (because Ms. Brown won’t let us groan any other way) I wondered how many words it takes to tell someone to rely in them self. Regardless of how I felt, the reality of the situation is, many people on this earth feel unfulfilled, so they turn to hazards to feel that void. Everyone has their insecurities, and that sense of self that always seems to contradict them. In this sense the author of self reliance is sending out a message that people should accept themselves for who they are despite the outcome. At the end of the day you only have yourself, not saying that you are alone, but ultimately you can only fully rely on yourself. It’s nice if you have people in your life who are willing to share in your burden, but what if those people weren’t there? Who would you rely on? If the answer is “I don’t know”, then I highly recommend you sit down and force yourself to read this “little essay” title Self reliance.

Ralph Emerson is an author that I can automatically tell is very colorful, in getting across his message to his audience. The second sentence really stands out, “The soul always hears an admonition in such lines, let the subject be what it may.”(Emerson) Basically this sentence is saying that despite what your brain hears, or how well it can comprehend the matter at hand, the soul is always going to hear a flaw. This is your inner self doubting your decision. Most people can’t rely on themselves and/or don’t trust themselves enough when their first minds tell them correctly. “Nothing is at last sacred, but the integrity of your own mind” (Emerson) The soul should be thought of as your inner self. If your inner self is always in contradiction with everything else, there should be a raise for concern. Logos is a very strong device which is colorfully used broadly and often throughout the entire piece of literature. The logical analogies being used are mainly appealing to an audience who are of knowledgeable distinction. “Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.”(Emerson) This is a wise piece of knowledgeable information to everyone scholars and diversity alike. To be a man you must be your own man. Despite the popular belief that is you set the trend you are the man. A real man won’t try to encourage people, or most aimed at our youth, but a real man encourages others to be their own people as well. Take a look around your environment, and see how many girls you can spot with kinky twists, or how many guys you can spot with Js or fusions. Not to say they don’t purchase these things, because of their personal taste; but most likely it’s for acceptance. Furthermore, this is a point that Emerson argues against, to be self reliant you must first be self distinctive.

“There is a mortifying experience in particular, which does not fail to wreak itself also in the general history; I mean the “foolish face of praise”, the forced smile which we put on in company where we do not feel at ease in answer to conversations which does not interest us.” (Emerson) This is a pathological appeal very well used in order to strike a common emotion within the average person. Everyone has those interests when they feel they can’t be themselves, so they put on a fake facade in hopes of being accepting. Wearing a mask or “foolish face of praise” to disclose how you truly feel inside is a commonly used fight or flight response mechanism. Everyone has that vulnerable feeling that they don’t belong or don’t feel their knowledgeable on what’s current, but instead of sticking true to your inner self, you put on a show for the rest of the world. And for what? When you actually think about it most of the people you associate with now, you probably won’t even remember their last name in twenty years from now. So why lower yourself today, when you’re only going to have yourself for tomorrow? Don’t lower yourself for another is an overall message. Your purpose on earth is not to please people who come into your life; however they should see fitting to please you, for wanting to stay within your life. “A great man is coming to eat at my house. I do not wish to please him; I wish that he should please me.”(Emerson) Playing off of a common human emotion was a very smart tactic on the part of Emerson.

Emerson thoroughly presents a well thought out argument throughout the entire text. The overall goal of the essay was to inspire, but to also point out his point of view while relating to his audience in a way that would appeal them in his favor. The basis of the text revolved solely around self. This word was repeated several times throughout the passages. If self was omitted his argument would suffer, and become weak. Self is the ultimate message and goal. Without self there is no sense in ones belief. The core of who you are has a person would be non existent. And you will be condemned to a life as a conformist.

The Slave's Dream

Slavery has always been a compelling topic for me. I can’t even begin to fathom how one in that position would feel, or maintain the willingness to live. This poem is written simplistically, but yet ardently gets a more in depth point of view across to the readers. Strategically it appeals to the audience in a way that’s comprehensible, eliminating the need for further pondering of understanding. The Slave’s Dream is the story of a slave whom we meet while he seems to be in a peaceful sleep. The readers are invited into the slave’s dream where we uncover parts of his life, until unfortunately death overtakes him. Upon reading the title I was very inclined to read this poem. I was under the interpretation that the title suggested a slave breaking out of slavery which ultimately was every slave’s dream. “Beside the ungathered rice he lay, His sickle in his hand; His breast was bare, his matted hair was buried in the sand” (lines 1-4). This is a very important line in the poem; it establishes to the readers that the slave is sleep, and also a man. A sense of foreshadow is also softly noted here. The fact that the slave lay next to ungathered rice, with his tool still in hand gives off the sense that something must have corrupted his work. Would he really risk not completing his work to bear the disapproval of his master? A sense of time is also suggested hear, the fact that his head was buried in the hair suggests that his head has been resting in the same spot for quite a while. Could a person really sleep comfortably inhaling hot sand, with a heavy tool in hand? Maybe a dead man could. “Beneath the palm trees on the plain once more a king he strode” (lines 9-10) This line suggests that this young man was once a prestigious person against his people. As if once of rank, and stripped of it he must one day return to his rightful place, even if it’s only in his dreams. Ironically, within the poem before he leaves the plantation, he kisses he wife and children, leaving them behind forever. This gesture was slightly confusing he moved toward freedom, however left his wife in children condemned in a life full of suffering and pain. What kind of man would leave his wife and children behind while he fled for freedom? “His bridle reigns were golden chains, and with a martial clank, at each leap he could feel his scabbard of steel, smiting his stallion’s flank.”(lines 21-24) Here it is inferred that he is passing his feeling of oppression onto another being. Instead of reigns he has golden chains, the type that at one point restrained him; however the chains are golden they are not rusty ordinary chains. Perhaps this suggests a bright future for those still to be freed from their chains. Gold is the color of hope and power. A feeling that is instilled when freedom is achieved. “ That he started in his sleep and smiled At their
tempestuous glee. He did not feel the driver's whip, Nor the burning heat of day; For Death had illumined the Land of Sleep, And his lifeless body lay A worn-out fetter,
that the soul Had broken and thrown away!” (closing lines) Here it is suggested that the slave was aware that death was near, but could only smile and embrace the new life where he would no longer suffer. In this place he could not feel the whip of his oppressor.
The final line is one that is truly inspiring. It wasn’t his strength that broke out of his fetter, but his soul. Suggesting that you are only as strong as your soul.


The author of The Slave’s Dream wants the audience to feel a sense of compassion towards the slave. You can’t help, but feel empathetic towards a man stripped of his pride, forced under the authority of someone only referred to as master, to show your inferiority to him. This poem although mainly about the strife originating in the African American community is also focused to a broad audience. Anyone can read this poem and understand the message behind the author’s appeal to logic therefore influencing his appeal to his audience. No, not every race was forced into slavery, but empathy sees no color. The author appeals to the emotions and self-interest of the audience by making the text colorfully come to life. “Beside some hidden stream; And it passed, like a glorious roll of drums, Through the triumph of his dream.” (lines 34-35) This simple stream had colorfully turned into an orchestra the way it was described by the author, the river symbolized the overflowing freedom that the slave wished to achieve by the end of his journey. Throughout the journey of the book, the sand from which the book started soon became a symbol. When the poem started the slave’s head was engulfed within the hot sand, and when he cried his tears returned to the sand. The sand represents his master, it had power over him engulfing his head, and his vital signs for life. When he cried he returned a tear back to the sand, which could be interpreted as a sign of weakness. It is said he who over powers you controls you. “ When you cry you feed someone else’s joy, this is why you must learn to swallow your own tears.”(The Joy Luck Club)

Gettysburg Address response. [did anyone else fall asleep?]

1) Lincoln one of the most powerful orators wrote a speech, titled the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln covered many topics pertaining to the nation, but failed to include topics in which would seem imperative enough to include.

• Lincoln did not mention any presidents that preceded his term. Our nation did not result in the way it was stated in the Gettysburg address on its own. Meaning we did not become a nation no longer holding its freedom and equal rights overnight. It was stated that our nation was created free and equal, but at the end of the day I wonder; what happened? Perhaps he did not want to offend or slander his forefathers, or perhaps he did not believe it was their doing. A nation is only as strong as its leader.

2) Lincoln’s closing sentence of the Gettysburg Address was one of the most effective and mind altering. He is stating that as a nation we must bind together, to complete the unfinished task of fighting a war that should have never started. Despite the fact that it was trivial, Lincoln does not want it to be that the men died in vain. Was this to better his reputation? It was stated previously that the nation was conceived in liberty where all men were created equal. If that’s truly the case; what are we fighting for? Being president it would be easily inferred that Lincoln had the authority and power to end it, but to save face he stated that their lives were not taken in vain. This closing sentence is supporting Lincoln’s earlier statements on the war. Basically America was born free, and men will/should die to keep it that way. Overall this speech most likely gave a comforted outlook to the audience. They were told that their government by, for, and about them would never perish abolishing the idea in their minds of dictatorships and oligarchies. In addition, I’m sure it was comforting to know that people were willing to shed their blood for them so that they would continue to have the opportunity to remain free.


3) The Declaration of Independence, and the Gettysburg Address reflect each other, but differ greatly. Both revolve around the nation’s independence status. The Declaration of Independence was written to declare that all 13 colonies would bind together in the hopes of creating a united nation. Overall its purpose was to discuss the separation of the colonies from England in the hopes of becoming independent. Meanwhile the Gettysburg Address was written to discuss the Civil War, and how it would make America the united nation it was born to be. The way these two documents were written, portray different meanings. The Gettysburg address was written in reflection of the point of view of the soldiers that dies fighting for America’s independence; while The Declaration of Independence was more from the perspective of the government attempting to unify the nation.


4) A speech that comes to my mind now, is Obama’s democratic nominee acceptance speech. Unlike Lincoln’s it was not short and sweet, but maintaining the powerful effect. Obama’s speech was long, but was filled with topics aimed at his audience in a way that would keep them awake, and interested. Both Lincoln and Obama are outstanding orators, who are highly intelligent. Both care about the feelings of the people, and both ultimately want equality for everyone. Even if it’s jus everyone equally receives health care the overall point is everyone should receive equal rights despite where they originated, or their social status.

links to literary notes

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/romanticism.html
http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/realism.htm
http://www.enotes.com/gothic-literature/gothic-literature-an-overview