Anorexic

The title alone was caught my attention and I wanted to know more about what the author was saying. The historical context for the theme is basically a girl that is trying to desperately hard to be skinny. The cultural background is not clear,but I'm pretty sure it is a female. Whether or not the girl is young or old, the author doesn't make it clear in the story. I have personally never experienced this, but I had a friend who did. Some cultural/historical clues that are in the story are the words flesh, heretic, witch, burning, torching, self, milk and honey and vomited. These words are significant because they add to the meaning of the poem and they have symbolic meaning. I would like to research what the word anorexic really means and who suffers the most from this disease.

Holocaust Party/Battle Royal

Holocaust Party
Theme: I think the theme is for Joel, Amy, and her parents to listen to a Holocaust survivor tell her story.
Setting: This story mainly took place at Amy's house during a small dinner party.
P.O.V: This story is told from Joel's perspective.

Battle Royal
Theme: The author is thinking back in his life and is trying to find himself.
Setting: This story took place in a ballroom.
P.O.V: This story is told from the author's perspective.

No Name Woman

I think this title alone is totally relevant to the story. The fact that this girl had an aunt that she never knew about was...crazy to me. I can't imagine my mom or dad telling me that you have an aunt, but we don't speak of her because she killed herself in a well. I would not know what to do. I just don't understand why they would deny that she is part of the family. I know it was wrong for her to kill herself, but they can't continue living a lie.

Becky and Battle Royal

I thought the beginning of this short story was really interesting, in a wierd way. I don't understand why people were questioning why this white woman had two black sons. But I managed to follow the story. Then when it got to the middle/ending, I was so lost. Did she get run over by a train or something?

This story was ok. I think that for the author to say that he is the "invisible man" is kind of interesting. When I think of a person saying that they are invisible, I think of a transparent person. Perhaps not literally invisible, but maybe is an open book. Like the phrase, "I can see straight through you". But I think that this story really, or the first paragraph touched close to home for me. I am not naive, but I had a hard time figuring out who I am, and to be completely honest, I still am trying to figure that out.

America and If We Must Die

I am going to be completely honest...I really hate commenting on peoms because everytime I think one thing, it always turns out to mean something else. I know poems and text or any piece of literature for that matter can mean anything that the reader wants it to mean, but I'm always on another level. I'll give these a try and see where my luck gets me. In America, I thought from the first three lines in the poem, that this took place in a jungle because of the words "And sinks intor my throat her tiger's tooth". I pictured lions or tigers fighting outdoors and the tiger took a huge chunk out of another animal's throat. The poem kind of lost me towards the ending though.

If We Must Die was kind of easier to follow. I think the author is saying that if we are going to die, since we all have to, then let it not be like hogs or animals. Hogs are normally slaughtered when they are being killed. The author wishes to die in a more pieceful manner without blood being shed. However, I agree with the author, but I don't. The reason I don't is because we do not have a choice in how we die. It would be nice to have a peaceful death, but it's up to GOD, in my opinion.

How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl, or Halfie

I have to honestly say that I read this last week in class already! I was drawn into the story because of the title. I thought it was catchy and I wanted to know what the author was going to be talking about. I really liked it. It kept my attention, but it was kind of stereotyping people, especially females. I thought some of the stuff was kind of funny or interesting for the author to say, but at the end of the day, it was full of a lot of stereotypes.

Freewrite-Turret

Now that I actually have an understanding of what a Ball Turret is, it is easier for me to understand the poem. I think now, I have a better understanding of what the author is trying to say and it kind of makes me feel uncomfortable. Just the thought of being squeezed in a tight space like that will make me go crazy. Now the last line in the poem is even stronger to me because all I can picture is about two or three men walking normally to the turret and hosing the body out as if they were doing a quick car wash. It's a very sad image to imagine.

I can see why Jarrell wrote this poem because he served in the army.

I guess if I had to write a paper on this poem, the background on the author would be very helpful for me to write this paper. I think now that I know what a Ball Turret is, I would be able to write a little something on this poem. I'm not sure how interested I would be writing this poem, but I could do it.

Freewrite

WAR-When I think of the word war I think of people fighting. A war doesn't have to be a large group of people, it can be between two people. I picture the mood to be very dark and gloomy and sad. Colors that will represent this word could be earth tone colors-dark colors. Perhaps maybe black, dark brown, blue, gray, hunter green, or even white and red. The reason why I added red and white is because red is symbolic for blood and in wars, you are going to see blood. White to me represents light and that is what surviviors want to see when they finish the war-the light. The sound would be loud and disturbing.
GUNNER-Perhaps maybe a gun man! Someone who just shoots to shoot. Maybe a trained shooter. I honestly have no idea what I want to say about this word. The colors could maybe be a dark gray and whatever other color bullets are; maybe a gold. The sound would be really loud and sharp.
ATTACK-The word attack to me means harming someone. It can be animals attacking each other, humans attacking each other, or maybe even animals and humans attacking each other. I think it means harming something and the purpose behind it is to kill. The colors associated with this word would be red. The sound would be loud, but quiet at the same time.

The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner

This was a short poem, but had a strong meaning behind it. I think the poem was about a miscarriage. The reason why I think this is because of phrases such as, mother's sleep, hunched in its belly, and when I died. It was kind of clear to me, that this is what the poem was about because of the last line in the poem. The author stated that, "When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose. This poem could have also been about abortion too because the person didn't actually make it to the earth yet.

Historicism/New Historicism/Holocaust Party

I enjoyed reading The Holocaust Party because it was nothing like I have read before. It kept my attention and I think the story had a rather interesting ending. I found it quite interesting how Mrs. Isabel seemed so harmless and pure until she made that comment about "The Blood Test". I still am not sure what she meant by that. She made a statement about the Jews having thinner blood than normal blood. What kind of thing is that to say. I also wondered why she waited until it was just her and Joel in the room to say what she said. I also found the father's character to be kind of interesting. It seemed as though he could not keep still. I wished the author would have said a little more about him.

Glory of Women & They

Glory of Women-The strongest part of this poem is the last three lines: O German mother dreaming by the fire, While you are knitting socks to send your son, His face is trodden deeper in the mud. The reason why I think this part stuck out the most to me is because can you imagine not knowing your son is dead? I think that is every mother's worst nightmare, not knowing what is happening to your children. I think it was strong because I have a brother and I cannot imagine my mother getting something ready for him, and he is dead. I think it is scary and creates a disturbing thought in my mind.

They-I think this was kind of interesting. I find it ironic how in the beginning of the poem, the author states, "When the boys come back They will not be the same". After reading the whole poem, I realize what he meant by that statement. Whenever someone fights in a war, they will never be the same.

Anthem for Doomed Youth & Dulce et Decorum Est

Anthem for Doomed Youth-I have to be completely honest. I do not understand what that poem was about at all. I think it might have been about maybe a war or something and children dying? I am really speechless about this poem.

Dulce et Decorum Est-I have a better understanding of what this poem my be about. I want to say it is actually about a war and describes the different deaths. I like the second stanza the most because I can picture everything the author is saying. I can imagine hundreds of boys running around an open desert. All of them are moving at their own pace but still rushing. With or without a helmet, the war stops for no one.

The Soldier

I think this poem had a lot to do with the Cultural/History Inventory. I think the overall meaning of the poem is a soldier that is talking about his/her hometown, which is England. The author embraces England with such a strong meaning. It's almost like the author eats, sleeps, and breathes England. At least, that's what I interpreted from the poem.

Cultural/Historical Inventory

This reading was short but very interesting and it kept my attention. I think everything the author had to say was very true. Culture and the way people were raised, affects how different stories are told. I was raised in the Bronx, New York and I would describe September 11 much different from my cousin who was raised in Charleston, South Carolina . Although I just left right before it happened, that is my hometown, so it effected me. The same applies to Hurricane Hugo. I was not in South Carolina when it happened, so my explaination would be a lot different from my Grandma, who was born, raised, and lived in Charleston her whole life. Being that I am from New York, I do find myself thinking a lot differently from most of my friends who are Southern.

Concerns about Essay 2

I was concern that my paper was going to be too long. The cover of that cd is really animated and that alone can create a 5 or 6 page itself. I also thought about just analyzing a song, but I noticed that my paper was going to sound a lot like analyzing a literary text. There is just so much that can be done with this cd. Other than that, I think I'm straight.

Warm-Up

When I was making my poster, I was actually watching Making The Band 4. After staring at Brian for a good minute, I noticed Dawn's hair. (Brian and Dawn are on the show). I remembered watching the Tyra Banks talk show and she did a segment on hair weave. A lady on the show said that when she wore here weave, she became more confident. I decided to do my poster on that because I think it was kind of sad that hairweave gave someone so much confidence. I think people should be confident no matter if they have weave in or not.

SWA 5

1. The object I have chosen is Kanye West cd, Graduation. Since it is a cd that I am analyzing then I would say the artist main purpose or Kanye in this case main purpose is to express how he is feeling through music. Since I listen to this cd religiously I know almost all the songs by heart. However, the songs to me reveal that this person is very confident, even cocky, and anyone who chooses to listen to this cd is either extremely confident or cocky. Perhaps not all the time, but at that moment. I also think the message behind this is to demonstrate strength and not to give up. In my analysis, I think the cd cover is crucial, the title of the cd, graduation, and some of the songs such as champion, stronger, I wonder, good life, can't tell me nothing, and flashing lights. The reason why I think the cover is important because its design really does send a message out. I believe the intended audience to this cd is everyone. Music is not limited to its creativity, therefore it's not limited to who listens to it. However, I think the cd does catch the attention of japanese culture and african american culture more than any other culture, but like I said earlier, not limited to just these two ethnicites.

2. Thesis- This paper will argue that Kanye West's latest cd, Graduation, demonstrates confidence/arrogance, strength, and life changing moments that we all face in our lives. I will use songs from his cd to further explain my point and why I am analyzing this cd. The songs will include, "Champion", "Stronger", "I wonder", "Good Life", "Can't Tell Me Nothing", and "Flashing Lights". The reason why I chose this text is because it has sentimental value to me. Ever since I bought it, I was unable to remove it from my cd player until several months later. Even to this day I still listen to at least one of his songs on a daily basis.