My favorite Musical/Play turned movie.

My favorite musical/play turned movie.

Recently I watched the “Phantom of the Opera”, these were some of my thoughts. The “Phantom of The Opera” has been a classic Broadway production for many years. Over the decades, its superb music and acting have filled theaters from New York to London. It has since been made into a motion picture of the same title. The film is an excellent example of a movie musical in many ways. The use of cinematography increases the already moving effect of the music. The cast, music, and cinematography combine to make “The Phantom of The Opera” a masterpiece that expands upon the already moving score, by adding the visual effects of cinema.

One way the “Phantom of The Opera” stands out, as a musical, is how it incorporates visual acting to accentuate the music. Songs such as “Music of The Night” and “All I Ask of You” have more emotional impact when accompanied by good video and acting. The acting in the Phantom greatly enhanced the musical in general. It was accurately portrayed to the original storyline, and didn’t distract from the tone of the music. Although the movie actors did not have the superior vocal abilities of those in the actual Broadway play, the vocals were satisfactory. Looks and style were chosen over vocal talent, for the lead roles, most likely.

Another portion of the musical, which is notable, is the cinematography. The movie is shot quite well, without distracting moves or angles. The lighting and mood of a scene accentuates the music rather well. From the dreary darkness of the phantom’s lair, to the sprawling ballrooms and masquerades, the music’s surroundings are done with great care. The plot line was easy to follow and riveting. It is the story of a disfigured boy who becomes a dark, murderous phantom of the opera house. Then, upon the arrivial of beautiful new soprano, he begins to wreak havoc in the theater. The mysterious, hidden nature of the story, adds depth to the plot. It left me thinking all the while, “what will happen next?” There were no slow moments of monologue or confusing twists, and the story was captivating. All in all, the movie aspect of the “Phantom of The Opera” was quite excellent.

But the most important part of this “Musical” is the music. The one thing that makes this play and movie a classic is the emotionally moving and epic songs that it entails. Many different musical styles are used. From the slow thoughtful interlude to the epic full orchestral symphonies, every bit of music is breathtakingly excellent. Also, the happy jovial sounds of “Masquerade” and “Prima Donna” add some joy to the otherwise melancholy sonatas of the phantom. The feeling of “grandeur” is felt throughout the movie’s music. The full orchestral sounds of many of the sounds give an epic feel to the words. The full sound and strong tenor of “The Music of The Night” make it my favorite song in the film. The music also creates a very intimate feel at one moment, and then transitions to an epic symphony in the next. It is this technique, which I find to be a superior way of communicating feeling and thought to an audience. There are many other aspects of the music in “The Phantom of The Opera” that make it an excellent movie, but it must be admitted that the music at the actual play, is far superior to that of the movie.

Everyone enjoys a good story. Add a little music and it’s even better. “The Phantom of The Opera” does this quite well. It employs a solid plot, good acting, and superiorly written score. The Broadway play may be better, but if you simply want to watch a good musical from the comfort of your couch, this is quite acceptable. The music in the movie makes everything else work. The rest of the movie revolves around it. It is a movie that will take you in with spellbinding song, and spectacular visual accompaniment. “The Phantom Of The Opera” is an excellent musical that will be watched and listened to for years to come.

Why Do I Forget Things?

Why do I forget things?

Being a college student is a daunting task. We have many things going on in our life in tandem, to prepare us for life ahead. It’s extremely easy to forget the things we need to remember, especially in classes. The amount of information we absorb and are expected to remember in our courses can be overwhelming. The effective use of memory can help college students immensely in this regard. There are several techniques that can increase one’s ability to memorize and remember key information.

One of the most important keys to memory is interest. If you aren’t vested to some degree in what you are trying to memorize, you will have a more difficult time remembering it. This is because the brain organizes and retains information based on value and relevance. This process would affect how the memory would be stored in one’s mind. Also, the more background and general information you have to pull from on a topic will help as well. One practical way to learn involves using Mnemonics. Mnemonics are methods for remembering information such as acronyms and songs. It is centered on retrieval of information. One prime example is using the word HOMES to indentify the great lakes. If you can create one of these for your subject of study, you will greatly increase your brain’s information coding ability.

One of the most common strategies in encoding memory is being used at this very moment. It involves learning information in blocks, so it can be retrieved easier in the future. This is most common in telephone numbers, and it deals with the coding of information. Another memory technique is called the “pegword” method. This entails using a list of single words to link to ideas that need to be retained. If I needed to remember a sequence of events in a story for example, I might string a list of subject words that would remind me of the bigger plot. Research finds that most Americans are visual learners, so this next technique is particularly widespread. It’s called the “method of Loci.” It suggests using images to retain information, since the sense of sight is one of the most powerful and can be used very effectively to retain information. This strategy helps in the retention of information from the mind. In the end, there are many strategies we, as college students, can make use of in order to better remember the many facts that get jumbled around daily.

Why Literature?

Why literature?

My name is Aaron King. I am 20 years of age and am a student at University of Memphis. This is my sophomore year of college and I am undecided in major. I graduated from Faith Heritage Christian Academy high school. My family is from Memphis and I was born here and have lived here since. My mother and father both work and live in Memphis, and my sister is a freshman in high school. I consider music one of my greatest passions in life. I’ve played guitar since I was 13 and the piano for 6 months. I’ve been playing with friends for the last 5 years in various places, but mostly for churches. Reading is also a hobby I greatly enjoy. I’ve read many books over the summer such as; “Miracles” by C.S.Lewis, “Blue Like Jazz” by Donald Miller, and others. I’ve worked with my dad doing carpentry work for the last 6 years. It’s not steady work, but it’s a good opportunity to learn a useful skill. I spend a great deal of time at The Vue at poplar plaza, hanging out with friends and working to serve our college community.

I was drawn to take a lit course because I’ve loved reading for so long. I don’t know anyone in the field and haven’t taken a course in this field before, but I am interested to see what new facts and concepts this semester will reveal. I am not exactly sure what my career plans are post college. I love music and I may pursue that, or use that talent in the church, as I have for most of high school and college. Wherever I am, I hope that God will use me to proclaim the gospel.

The Importance of Plays

Plays have been around for many long years. A play is a very focused way of telling a story, in a way that can be seen with live people, rather than in text, or film. They are almost like reenactments of stories, from long ago, in which the audience can see the story better. I enjoy going to plays because even though you may have heard or read the story before, it takes on a new life when you see people acting it out in front of you. Shakespeare’s plays have been some of the most done plays in recent time. They take an immensely moving story and put it on the stage. I remember when I saw “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Orpheum some years back. Although I knew the story, seeing the play brought it to life in a way I had never experienced before. Performed dramatic plays are a vital part of story telling, and one of the most beneficial means of communicating a meaningful story.

Why is Shakespeare Great?

Hamlet is a classic story that depicts the way Shakespeare wrote to a tee. Shakespeare has been and continues to be one of the most definitive writers of his time. His masterful stories have captivated many readers over the years. His tragedies, sonnets, and other works are some of history’s most acclaimed writings. He is one of the most well known writers to the common person. But what makes Shakespeare so great? Historians have uncovered so very little about this man who has given us to much great literature. Some have even claimed that he never existed. His stories captivate us because they involved key common themes that are relatable to all mankind. These tropes have been used time and time again in literate as a kind of template. The reason Shakespeare is so renowned is because we acquire many of our literary tropes from his work. This is what makes Shakespeare one of the greatest writers of his time and throughout literary history.

Music & Writing

Music is a major part of my life. So is written word. From the time I could read, I’ve always enjoyed immersing myself in books and stories. This love of reading is what I attribute a great deal of my vocabulary and English skills to. Reading has also affected how I play and listen to music. I greatly enjoy writing songs, and song writing has some of the same elements as writing in general. As with an story, one is trying to communicate some idea, or feeling. Even when the mode is a melody, the same is still true. In every song, regardless of lyrics, the music itself communicates it’s own ideas and feelings. This is one of the most powerful aspects of music. There are many songs that can create an environment, without any words at all. I think music and writing go hand in hand, and I am grateful for both.

Point of View - Worn Path.

Worn Path Reflection

I thought the “Worn Path” was a pretty good short story. I think it was very well detailed in the story. It allowed me very well to create in my mind the vision of Phoenix on her trek. The point of view from the text was third person omniscient and it allowed the reader to create his own image based on the description. The movie was third person in it’s point of view, but to me it somewhat limited how I viewed the story. I feel like I could embrace the story better if I didn’t have to movie, but just the text. When I read the text, I could easily in vision her and what she was doing, and the possibilities were boundless. But the movie left me limited by what was on the screen. In other words, in the movie, the screen was the point of view, the lens through which we saw Phoenix. We knew nothing beyond it. The text however, allowed us to think beyond the words and to give framework and structure to what was given. I think this is the defining difference between text and visual story telling.

Holidays

I’m looking forward to the holidays a whole lot. I can’t wait to get a break from school for a little while, and be able to hang out with friends and family I haven’t seen in a while. I think it is crucial for college student and students of any kind, to have a break from their studies. It has been proposed that some students go year round here in the states. I think imposing year round schooling would be catastrophic to the family organization of the nation. There would be less time with family, less time to learn from parents, and more time to be conformed state run organizations. I got off on a tangent, but oh well. The point of all of this is. School is wearing me down, I can’t wait to have a break for Christmas. During said break I won’t be staying up till 1 AM trying to think of a blog to write for lit heritage. Those will be good times indeed.

Tradtion

We all have certain traditions. Whether it’s a family tradition, or just something you like to do by yourself, we are all united by the fact that we have habitual things we do, that we find significance in. This Christmas my family will go to my grandmother’s house and have boiled shrimp on Christmas eve. This has been one of out family traditions for as long as I can remember. Different people have very different traditions. It’s always interesting to stay with a friend for the holidays, to see how their family celebrates different things. It could be something meaningless or something to which a break from would be impossible. The word tradition, always makes me thing of the play, Fiddler on the Roof.

Worn Path Questions

A Worn Path Questions

1. What point of view is used in this story?

It is from a third person point of view, as if someone were walking along with her.

2. What is the significance of the old woman being named Phoenix?

Her name is very ethereal, almost unbelievable in the situation. It doesn’t strike me as a common African name.

3. What does this technique contribute to the story's effect?

It gives it a very “far off” almost not real feeling to it.

4. How would you characterize the way Phoenix is viewed and treated by the white people she meets? Does their behavior toward her give you any indication of where the story is set and when it takes place?

She is looked upon as an old black granny, some kind of second rate citizen who can’t be doing anything noble. This leads me to believe that this story is set in the post civil war, late 1800’s 1900’s in the south.

5. What does she admire about him, and what does this attitude tell us about her?

She admires his kindness, this tells us she is also kind.

6. Is the comparison at the end of this sentence just a striking visual image, or does it have a larger relevance?

It bears greater meaning on the nature of the story, and how this woman is attempting to do something noble for her son, but is shadowed by the times and her African decent.

Sonny Questions

Sonny’s Blues Questions

1. From whose point of view "Sonny's Blues" told? How do the narrator's values and experiences affect his view of the story?

The point of view is from Sonny’s brother. His dislike for Sonny shapes how he views the story.

2. What is the older brother's profession? Does it suggest anything about his personality?

His brother teaches Algebra. This means he probably has a very strict attitude toward Sonny and life in general, as math is an exact science.

3. How would the story change if it were told by Sonny?

Sonny would most likely be portrayed in a more positive light, and be more easy to identify with.

4. What event prompts the narrator to write his brother?

He gets into some trouble and that makes him write Sonny.

5. What does the narrator's mother ask him to do for Sonny? Does the older brother keep his promise?

She tells him of his father’s brother and asked him to look after Sonny. He tries to.

6. The major characters in this story are called Mama, Daddy, and Sonny. How does these names affect our sense of the story?

They are very general names, given based on their relationship to one another. She makes the story more general and easy to relate to.

7. How has Sonny made this music his own?

It exemplifies who he is. Once he started playing it himself, he truly found out who he is, and made the music his own.

Personality and Writing

I took the Jung Typology Test in Psychology class recently and was attributed the personality trait of INFP. This stands for Introverted, Intuitive, Feelings, Perceiving. This was described in my sources to be a person who is an Idealistic healer type. This person is laid back, and focused on making the world a better place for others. In addition it described INFP’s to be intuitive and emotionally based in their behavior. There were some aspects of myself I think the test got right, while there are some I disagree with. The test did a good job of pointing out that I’m laid back. This is very true. Also, it detailed that I have a strong sense of morality, or a value system, which is also true. And overall the results seemed to characterize much of who I am, in that I’m idealistic, I lend toward English and writing, rather than math and science, and that I want to help people. However, on the other hand, it did state that all INFP’s are perfectionists, which is something I am very far from. Also the profile showed that INFP’s didn’t use logic to analyze situations, which is something I do heavily.

Overall, I think the test did train in on some important characteristics of my personality. I believe that it is beneficial in helping people map out their strengths and weaknesses. It shouldn’t be relied on to dictate one’s future, but it can be used as a general indicator of someone’s tendencies. The careers the test chose for me were quite interesting. They ranged from Religious Education and counseling to Music and Writing. I think music would be an appropriate choice for me, since it is one of my great passions in life. The career indicator was pretty interesting and seemed to do a good job based on the information given. One major criticism of this testing system would be that it is not exhaustive. It is just an indicator, rather than absolute proof. People should remember when taking this test that it only points out little aspects of who we are as individuals; it is we ourselves who make up who we are.

It would be very interesting to see my friends take this test. It would most likely explain a lot of interactions between us all. I think my good friends who score in various places, some closer to mine, while others, I assure you, would be far off. I think this shows the diverse nature of my friends. Like all of us, I want to hang out and be friends with those who share some commonalities with me, but each one of us is different in how we relate and live. This, as you know, creates the most interesting social situations that we all take part in on a daily basis. I think my personality affects the way I write as well. Because we all have different personalities, we were all created unique. The Jung Typology is yet another way to delve into the wonder of human interaction.

Rain and its uses in literature

I’m sick of the rain in Memphis. Every day I have class for the last three weeks, it has rained. It is getting quite old. It’s interesting to see how rain is used in literature, poetry, and song to portray a certain mood or thought to the reader. For instance, a gloomy dismal setting is sometimes characterized by rain in a good piece of literature. In many songs rain is used to appeal to the reader, or to a common theme. As a musician, when I write songs, many times rain finds its way into the lyrics. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s because it exemplifies conflict in my life. Whatever the reason, it’s always interesting to see how something so simple as rain, is used in countless ways to portray many different feelings, thoughts, and settings. I find It extremely interesting.

Parker's Back Revisited

After discussing Parker's Back in class, many different things come to mind when considering the story. The religious connotation of the story really did take full focus after Thursday's class. The journey of Parker going from Physical to Spiritual was something i hadn't until then through about. Sarah Ruth's character was also made more real to me. The story became more about how both of these people were searching for redemption from two different perspectives. Sarah Ruth, from the strict, rule based, non-personal side, and Parker from his physical emotional, pain filled perspective. Both had hurdles to climb over to understand God and who He was to them in the story. I think Parker's Back finally gives some closure to O Conner's work and life. Parker finally finds redemption. It's a progression in O Conner's work; first the realization that we are all 'misfits' or flawed, regardless of class, then the pursuit of redemption. Both Parker and Sarah Ruth were looking for redemption, but from two very different places.

Study Questions

A Rose for Emily

1. What is meaningful in the final detail that the strand of hair on the second pillow is iron-gray?

Perhaps that she had been close by to the corpse, or slept with it.
2. Who is the unnamed narrator? For whom does he profess to be speaking?
Someone who is a citizen of the town.
3. Why does “a Rose for Emily” seem better told from his point of view then if it were told from the point of view of the main character?
This point of view gives it a mysterious feel, like looking in through a window into a richly furnished house.
4. What foreshadowing of the discovery of the body of Homer Barron are we given earlier in the story? Share your experience in reading “A Rose for Emily”: did the foreshadowing give away the ending for you? Did they heighten your interest?
The poison foreshadowed his death and made reading the story more interesting.
5. What contrasts does the narrator draw between changing reality and Emily’s refusal or inability to recognize change?
She killed Homer so he couldn't leave, and nothing would change.
6. How do the character and background of Emily Grierson differ from those of Homer Barron? What general observations about the society that Faulkner depicts can be made from his portraits of those two characters and from his account of life in this one Mississippi town?
The difference is in class. One is from a higher social class, and the other is not. The life of the higher classes is more stressful, but the lower class is more laid back.
7. Does the story seem to you totally grim, or do you find any humor in it?
There is some humor in how the family members relate to one another.
8. What do you infer to be the author’s attitude toward Emily Grierson? Is she simply a murderous madwoman? Why do you suppose Faulkner calls his story “A Rose…”?
She is someone stuck in time, clinging to the golden age of her life, unwilling to move on, and this is why i think Faulkner named it "a rose" because a rose changes.

Teenage Wasteland

1. From whose point of view is the story told? How would you characterize the method employed-omniscient, or objective?
It's told from the third person, and it's omniscient.
2. What is the significance of the opening paragraph of the story?
His growth as a person and the changes he went through.
3. Daisy is extremely self-conscious about how others view her. Find instances of this trait in the text. How does it affect her approach to raising her children?
She caters to what others tell her regarding raising her children.
4. Daisy’s attitude toward Cal undergoes frequent and at times rapid changes. Find examples in the text. What does she seem to think of him by the end of the story?
She is very bipolar toward him during the story. By the end she blames him for what happened to Donnie.
5. How does the portrayal of Donny’s sister, Amanda, help to clarify the larger concerns of the story?
It puts Donny's problems in the limelight and makes them larger in comparison.
6. Would you describe Tyler’s presentation of Daisy as satirical or sympathetic? Can it be both at once? Explain.
She inspires both criticism and sympathy with her action. One wishes to condemn her for what she does, but at the same time feel compassion for her.

O Conner: Being a Southern Catholic

O Conner’s southern background and Catholic upbringing are very evident in her works. In “A good man is hard to find” the family’s trip through the south is evidence of this. They insinuate that the southern states are not good enough. They make references to the current attitude toward African Americans. Both of these I believe show, to some degree, O Conner’s southern heritage being portrayed. I believe, in writing this story, she is contrasting the old regal, way of the south, with the new modern attitudes that have developed. The south, to her was a place of tradition and homely respect. By staging this work in the south, she is making a statement about her beloved homeland, that things were once better.

In addition to this, her catholic background also plays a significant role in the story. Throughout the grandmother’s conversation with the Misfit, they bring up the subject of Jesus. The misfit makes a very compelling argument that, if Jesus did what he said he did, then one should follow Him, but if not, then live in total meanness. He also wishes he could have been there to know if Christ did raise people from the dead, so he wouldn’t be the way he is now. This provides deep insight into O Conner’s beliefs. Being a catholic in the heavily protestant south must of shaped her religious life significantly. This is clearly seen in the dialogue between the grandmother and the Misfit.

Peer Review

i thought peer review in class was interesting. It's been a long time since i have done peer review, probably since high school. It can sometimes be a intimidating thing to hand someone your paper and be at the mercy of their criticism. However, doing this very thing is often one of the most beneficial ways to improve your writing. The comments on my paper helped me restructure my paper better and see my paper from a different perspective. Many times when i'm writing, i'll write in one sitting and never look back at it with fresh eyes. Doing this, in addition to peer review will greatly improve one's writing i think. What is hard is critiquing someone else's work. You have to be objective and willing to actually have some constructive criticism, rather than simply placate someone so you don't have to be negative. It was more challenging to me to critique someone else's work, than to accept criticism of my own. But all in all i thought the experience was beneficial to the class.

"Williams' American Dream"

All of us have a concept of the American Dream. It’s been glamorized in movies and TV shows for decades. We’ve heard politicians talk about it and we’ve heard about people achieving it. This dream, of going from rags to riches though hard work and coming to this nation with only a few pennies in one’s pocket has been talked about in literature since this country was founded almost. It is one of the most common tropes in literature. Tennessee Williams delves deep into our concept of the American Dream in his plays “Streetcar Named Desire” and “The Glass Menagerie” to form his own thoughts about what that really means.

“The Glass Menagerie” is in essence to me, a story about class and uniqueness. The Wingfields represent the nature of what it means to be an American Family to Williams. Amanda looks back and longs for the old days as an esteemed southern Belle, while striving to achieve some kind of life, through marital union, for her daughter Laura. Tom is the dutifully brother and son forced into being responsible for his family. This represents the American family, struggling along attempting to make it in the world. Then comes Jim O’ Conner, Tom’s fellow warehouse worker and proposed suitor to Laura. The situation that unfolds with Jim is used to illustrate the futility of hope, perhaps in Williams’ mind. The whole family is revolving around the prospect of Jim marrying Laura, when this hope is crushed at the revelation of his engagement. I think this is a window into Williams’ view of the American Dream. Perhaps the Dream is the obtaining of what we associate as the ideal American life.

In “Streetcar Named Desire” Williams continues to describe the American Dream in the comparison between ideal America, and the realistic industry that has developed. Blanche’s character is from a dying era, and has lost all her possessions, while Stanley survives on the sweat of his work in industry. To me, Williams is pointing out that the American Dream is not as magical as we believe it to be. It involves hard work, suffering, and toil. The conclusion of the story is interesting in the regard, when Stanley commits Blanche. The comparison between the two embodies Williams comparison between the magical America, and the real one. One involves heady ideas and inheritances, while the other is a gruesome struggle for survival in a harsh environment. I believe Williams is showing us two extreme views of what pursuing the American Dream looks like.

Streetcar Named Desire

I saw streetcar on Thursday night at the Hattiloo Theater. The theater was nice, it was my first time there. As the play got started, i enjoyed the cultural slant of the play, especially involving the acting. The story of the play was held to fairly well; it did get slow at points though, the play was rather long. I was glad there was an intermission. I liked Stanley's character a good deal, but Blanche tended to annoy me at points. Overall, i liked the play because it put a different slant to Williams' play i think; while the plot was maintained, the way the play was done, characters, acting and environment made it somewhat of a new animal to me. I enjoyed seeing the play visualize Stanley's violent tendencies and Blanche's very eccentric behavior. The play was pretty good, if long, but i'm not sure it was worth 16 bucks. Such is college, i suppose.

Poetry and Music

The world of music and writing go hand in hand i've found. Poetry, for instance, is a lot like music. When i read lines from Frost or Hemingway, or anybody, i see something that looks lyrical. When i write a song, the words tell a story, they enforce an idea. With music, unlike poetry, the music itself is another tool to form that idea. This is why i love music, because it allows me to express ideas not only on an intellectual level, but on a deeper, emotional level. Some of the most moving music i enjoy has no lyric. The song itself speaks it's own language, deep and penetrating. I've always been drawn to music, and as of late i've started to see the similarities between different art forms, such as poetry.

writing and art

Writing and Art

Writing is not often associated with art in a general sense. Writing deals with words, art with images. But words and images are in my mind almost the same. A word is an image, an idea. An image works the same way. They both express ideas in the same way. When a book is written, it centers on an idea. In the same way a piece of art communicates an idea as well. While the medium of communication may vary, the goal is the same. I’m a musician, so I believe music also falls in close association with art and writing. In essence, music takes the words and thought of writing, and combines it will the expression and abstractness of art. But all of it is united in it’s goal, of communicating an idea.

Harrison Bergeron Questions

Harrison Bergeron Study Questions

1. It seems at the opening of the story, that an extreme form on equality has been imposed on society, by the government. This would seem to be a consequence of Communist thought, or perhaps simply equality, misunderstood then taken to its logical ends.

2. The extreme nature of the changes described are impossible under capitalism and most other systems as well. The situation in the story is taken to an extreme to make a point and illustrate the base idea behind some of our current beliefs. The story is attempting to define our understanding of equality. In the story, and under some schools of thought in reality, “equality” meant everyone being equal in every way; intelligence, attractiveness, income, and on and on. The story shows the logical conclusion of the “you’re all winners” philosophy.

3. The agents enforce mediocrity. Anywhere someone attempts to think outside the norm, they are there to ensure “equality” There are many means to achieving such a society. Over time, a society can be deluded to the point that such an extreme is possible.

4. He is obviously parodying our attempts to down play personal responsibility, by lumping children, and adults, together rather than judging them based on their actions. His story is a satire on a politically correct America, where we all can be winners, rather than those who work for it.

5. It is represented in that it follows that all aspects of human life must be dumbed down so that no one person excels above another.

6. Harrison is pushing past the system that has been forced upon him. The handicaps that have been imposed on him are forcing him to break through in an opposite response.

Short Story Questions

Literature Assignment

Who is the story's main character, Connie or Arnold Friend?

I think the main character of the short story is Connie. From the beginning of the story, her life is the focus, and her choices, especially when Arnold comes on the scene are still what the story revolves around, I believe. We see her desire for something new and different, and how the evolves into this situation with Arnold at the climax of the story.

Who is Arnold Friend? Do you think he is appropriately named? What is the significance of his car? His clothing? His language?

He is a swinger type of guy, who goes around attempting to “smooth talk” girls into relations with him. In short, he’s a con artist. I think his name is appropriate as he attempts to pass himself off as a “friend” to Connie. His car, clothing, and language all enforce his “cool guy” image he is trying to create. Using all of these, he can persuade girls to take a ride with him so he can take advantage of them.

Do a little research about the significance of the numbers 33 19 17. What are some of the ideas that have been suggested about their meaning? What do you think they mean?

There are many ideas floating around about the significance of those numbers. Some claim they are a biblical reference to the Judges 19:17 “And he lifted up his eyes and saw the traveler in the open square of the city; and the old man said, "Where are you going, and where do you come from?" Judges is the 33^rd book in the bible if you count backwards. Some believe they indicate something sexual, while many believe they mean nothing at all. I would have to go with the latter explanation.

Describe important images that you see in the story and what they do to create meaning within the story.

Imagery is very important to the story. The drabness of Connie’s life at home, contrasted by her social life and her adventures with boys, paints a very good picture of escape, and new horizons. Also, the description of Arnold Friend and his car gives a eerie hint to his sinister nature.

Where have you been, Baby Blue?

Where have you been, Baby Blue?

A good story is something that transcends many levels of knowledge. They can be told orally, written down as books, or acted out as plays. But whether a story takes the shape of a novel, poem, song, or play, the story itself remains the same. This has been done for many ages in cases like Homer’s Iliad, and others. As time has passed, our modern culture has become comfortable with several common tropes. These ideas are very familiar to most of us, and are seen in plays, TV shows, movies, books, songs, poems, and anything else we use to communicate with. Basic stories of forbidden love, betrayal and irony, have been told and retold in different forms for ages.

For example, Homer’s Iliad entails the story of how a man surrendered to forbidden love, regardless of the horrendous consequences for him and his people. This story has been told in countless iterations. With each one, the basic plot of the story is seen in a different light. The story in Tucson, Arizona of how Charles Schmid murdered two young girls, inspired Joyce Oates to write “Where have you been?, Where are you going?” This story identifies with some other common tropes in our culture, such as “be careful what you wish for?, you just might get it” and the common story of breaking free of mundane life for something greater. This idea behind the story is seen in Bob Dylan’s song, and the movie Smooth Talk. Each one changes the story in a different way, while holding true to the foundation of the idea. From the story in Tucson, Joyce Oates changed some aspects to create her short story, and from that, the movie Smooth Talk was made, which mostly preserves Oates work. This is an example of how literature is fluid, and an idea or a story can traverse many different means of communication.

Three Pieces to Literature

The three pieces of literary structure are quite important. They define what a piece of literature is. The ingredients first, make up a great deal of a piece of literature and are the most identifiable. Things such as setting, characters, tone, and other simple facts are common ingredients, although there are many others. Ingredients provide detail and are for the most part, the basic building blocks of any piece of literature. Like in a cooking recipe, the ingredients form the foundation for the process and eventually the “made thing”. They give the overall piece meaning and descriptive substance.

The second piece is the process. The process involves how the ingredients are used in a certain piece. Many things such as wording, person choice, and sequence of events can fall under the process. Things that have to do with process, are not just ingredients, but certain techniques and placement of those ingredients. The process is basically the recipe that will take the ingredients and form them into the made thing.

The made thing is the final piece to this structure. In it lies the overall purpose or theme of the piece of literature. Both the ingredients and the process are used to hone in on one or multiple key ideas. The made thing is often some broad point or perspective which the author wishes to bestow upon his or her readers. This is the apex of the writer’s construction, the final piece of art after all the strokes have been applied. Reading any work with these pieces in mind will enable a reader to analyze the text to find meaning.

Lit. Heritage Assignment (Updike & Poems)

Lit. Heritage Assignment

After watching the interview with Updike, I saw his “A &P” in somewhat of a different light. From his perspective, Sammy really was doing something heroic it seemed. But the moral of his story as he described it seemed to be more about vain heroism. Sammy transfixed himself on the girls since he first saw them in the story, and this progressed until he finally quit his job. The point of the story to Updike, I thought was the vanity of this, in that he never found the girls, and they never knew what he did. Watching the interview did not so much change my view of Sammy as a hero, but it did help me understand where Updike was coming from when he wrote “A & P”

Sharon Olds’ poems “Rites of Passage” and “The One Girl at the Boys Party” are interesting poems delving into the subject of male leadership or headship I believe. In both poems she subtly belittles the brutish nature of boys and men. In R of P she is an overseer to the small talk of war between children, and in “The One Girl at the Boys Party”, she paints the girl as the controlling force, while the men just look on boorishly it seems. At least, this is what I got out of it. Both poems hint at feminism to me. They seem to follow Updike’s hero, in that, they question the normal definition of hero, by trivializing simple boyish talk and passions, to nothing more than vain ambition.

What is Heroism?

Heroism is a term that has been used for ages. We’ve seen countless movies, TV shows and real life situations where men and women are attributed this quality of heroism. But what does it truly mean? Since it is a semi recent event and one that is surly engraved in our minds, I wish to use the firefights of New York City as an example of the definition of heroism. We all remember where we were on 9/11, as our nation was brutally attacked and New York City was stunned into quick response. As the day went on and for long after we continued to hear of the bravery and heroism of the city’s firefighters and police, who rushed into the trade center even as it was collapsing. Isn’t this what heroism is? They fought through the rubble to save their fellow men and women from a cruel fate, and many did this to their own peril. There are few who would not say that their acts are anything less than heroism. But however, was this not their job as firefighters? They did get paid to do this, although one would admit, something of this magnitude did not happen ever day. We must ask ourselves what defines heroism? Must the hero have a good motivation to be heroic?

One reason this is a difficult thing to grasp is because we too often associate heroism and perfection. In storybooks and movies the hero is often portrayed with little flaws. But true heroism is not perfect. A person can perform a heroic act, making them a hero; yet have done if for selfish reasons. Police officers, who may be corrupt, cruel men in some situations, still save the lives of many citizens every day. Are they not too, heroes? I believe making a morally right decision has much to do with motivation, but heroism, the act of doing something heroic, could be separated from motivation all together. Many times heroism is done more out of instinct, then motivation. This is strange to me since naturally one’s instinct would be selfish, to look after the interest of one’s self. But heroism, many times puts self in danger. Perhaps to have the instinct to always jump to do the hard or selfless thing is a character of heroism, rather than simply exhibiting it in one or two actions.

If we apply this criteria of Heroism to Updike’s “A&P”, we find that Sammy quitting his job, was more or less based on his selfish desire to find approval with the girls, rather than take a stand against discrimination. The girls, however do not notice his act, and his intentions are never fulfilled. The question is, if an act of heroism in never seen, and the persons motivation for the act are flawed, then is it heroism at all? Surely we would argue that the firefighters who died in the trade center were not less heroic because they failed to get out, and died while attempting heroism? Herein lies the dilemma of heroism. I believe that heroism can be simply an action, and it can be made by both the commonly heroic, and the commonly corrupt.

Chapter I

Page 6:

1. The north wind is forceful, cold and harsh. it does things based on strength and brute force. The sun is more subtle, warm. it does things the opposite way from the wind. Good illustration of paradox.

2. The north wind's direct attempt to remove the man's cloak failed. His attempt caused the man to need his cloak more, therefore hold on to it tighter.

3. The Sun on the other hand created a situation where the man no longer valued his coat, and shed it easily.

4. The human is there to be an example of how two different means of getting the same thing are responded to.

5. the direct approach is not always the most advantageous. Subtlety and guile sometimes are of more avail.

Page 8:

1. the italic part gives exposition. The first sentence gives us the setting.

2. He uses the story to create a metaphor for his situation that would allow the men to understand his position.

3. He understands how to use a fictitious story to communicate meaning in a literal dilemma

Page 19:

1. Updike has a very close attention to detail throughout. This creates many points of reference which a reader might relate to, thus making the story realistic.

2.Sammy is seen in an extensive light due to the fact that we see as readers from his point of view. Typical guy who over thinks every detail, especially when involving girls. We don't see a whole lot with the doctor expect his defiance of death, which tells us a little about him.

3. The exposition is during the first part of the story, with the shopping and the description of the scene.

4. Sammy gets more and more obsessed with them as times goes by. He's less and less judgmental as a result.

5. The conflict lies in the confrontation and ensuing argument between the girls and lengal. the climax is sammy quitting his job.

6. He quite to impress the girls due to his new found infatuation with them.

7. The mundane way the store is described foreshadows the climax.

8.Sammy comes to the conclusion that quitting his job was a pretty dumb idea with unpleasant consequences.

9. He is making a statement about class, in regards to career. He's saying there is nothing exciting or heroic about working at a supermarket, or something equally mundane.