Realism is defined by Abby Werlock as: "the attempt to depict life as it actually exists, not as the author wants it to be in the present or the future, or imagines it was in the past" (Werlock). In other words, the focus of Realism is to depict stories in a factual manner that lends to their credibility and allows the reader to relate to them, rather than to exaggerate feelings and facts in order to achieve the desired emotional response.
Realism, which came into vogue right after Romanticism, which in turn came after Rationalism, was in a sense a mix of the two writing styles. While Rationalism focused on a purely scientific and logical approach to reasoning, Romanticism focused on the emotional and spiritual aspects, and therefore the two were basically complete opposites of each other. Realism, on the other hand, is based upon facts and real occasions, but in this style the author uses these facts and situations that the reader can relate to in order to inspire a reaction and prove a point. This idea employs both the emotional and factual sides of humanity, and therefore it probably appealed to a wider variety of people. Realism was also probably more likely to depict an accurate telling of events than something such as Romanticism, which focuses a lot on the unseen and supernatural.
In Ambrose Bierce's story, "An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge", realism is portrayed very strongly. Bierce employs both vivid descriptions and supernatural phenomena in order to elicit a response from the reader. For example, the author expresses the circumstances of the main character Peyton Farquhar's "escape" in excruciating detail, down to the color of the bruises encircling his neck. The author also plays to the emotional side though, with his descriptions of the subject's desperate attempt to keep his mind focused on his wife and children as he prepares to be hung. This presentation of facts as well as emotional descriptions is a characteristic of Realism.
The story is also placed in a historically accurate setting. It takes place during the civil war, and it inspires feelings of anger towards the union who hung Farquhar so brutally. This setting of an influential place in history is also very common of Realism. Realistic settings and ordinary people are typical of Realism stories. Farquhar was a typical citizen who just wanted to aid the side he was taking during the conflict. Unfortunately, this story illustrates the realistic way in which "brothers" slaughtered "brothers" during this war, and the way the two armies chose to brutally make examples of people by hanging them in places that other people would come across them and be forewarned not to betray them.
"An Occurence At Owl Creek Bridge" is a classic short story told by Ambrose Bierce that is a classic example of a Realism work of literature. Realism was a very important part of our literary history because it paved the way for modern literature. The mix of emotions and facts was an important combination that was finally reached under Realism.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Journal 31
I would not say I have ever had a day dream that got me out of a bad situation. However, I have had a regular dream that got me out of a bad situation, or rather it helped me avoid a bad situation.
One time I had a dream that I forgot something at home. In my dream I went home after forgetting it and searched for hours until I finally found where it was that I had forgotten it, and I was freaking out the whole time that the dream lasted because it was a big paper that I had to turn in and I was going to get a zero because I did not have it. I had accidentally left it under a notebook in my closet I believe, somewhere that I would not have thought of it being. Then I woke up from the dream and I realized that I had, in fact, left that paper exactly where it was in my dream, and I know I would have forgotten it in real life if I had not had that dream. So basically that dream saved me from making a huge mistake.
Yet another time I was writing another paper in the early evening and I fell asleep. While asleep I dreamed that there was a lightning storm and it fried my computer and therefore I lost my entire paper and also my computer was damaged. When I woke up about an hour later, my mom came downstairs to tell me that there was a lightning storm getting ready to happen. Remembering my dream, I saved my paper and turned off the computer until the lightning storm passed. Now of course I'll never know if the computer would have been struck had I not turned it off, but I would like to think that my dream was a sort of prophecy in a way. It makes me feel special to think that.
One time I had a dream that I forgot something at home. In my dream I went home after forgetting it and searched for hours until I finally found where it was that I had forgotten it, and I was freaking out the whole time that the dream lasted because it was a big paper that I had to turn in and I was going to get a zero because I did not have it. I had accidentally left it under a notebook in my closet I believe, somewhere that I would not have thought of it being. Then I woke up from the dream and I realized that I had, in fact, left that paper exactly where it was in my dream, and I know I would have forgotten it in real life if I had not had that dream. So basically that dream saved me from making a huge mistake.
Yet another time I was writing another paper in the early evening and I fell asleep. While asleep I dreamed that there was a lightning storm and it fried my computer and therefore I lost my entire paper and also my computer was damaged. When I woke up about an hour later, my mom came downstairs to tell me that there was a lightning storm getting ready to happen. Remembering my dream, I saved my paper and turned off the computer until the lightning storm passed. Now of course I'll never know if the computer would have been struck had I not turned it off, but I would like to think that my dream was a sort of prophecy in a way. It makes me feel special to think that.
Journal 30
I would have to emphatically say no to the idea of school uniforms. I think the purpose they are trying to achieve is absolutely ridiculous. They are trying to make sure that everybody is equal. They think that it will limit bullying and everything else because people will not be ridiculed for the style or type of clothing that they have. However, I think this is unnecessary at Pleasant Plains High School. Here, I rarely see anyone ever being made fun of for the type of clothing they wear. In fact, I think the real pressing issue here is the need for individuality rather than the need for equality.
I think in our society today kids spend way too much time trying to fit in and be like everybody else. All the media tells us to do is dress like the stars and become like the stars and all of that nonsense. So if there is in fact bullying based upon the way somebody dresses, the problem is that they are all so self-conscious about not being good enough that they feel the need to bring everybody else down. So taking away one of those reasons is not going to remedy the entire situation. What we need to do is strongly emphasize individuality in kids and each other.
Now I know the school cannot correct the student's need to be accepted all on their own. But they can refrain from taking another outlet of individuality and creativity away from the kids.
Aside from that, there is also the money factor. Not everybody can afford to pay for nice school uniforms, especially when they usually have to be specially ordered and are expensive. Some people just do their shopping at wal-mart, or Goodwill, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that whatsoever. They cannot afford to get these nice sets of school uniforms for the kids to be wearing every day. And maybe they could only afford to get one or two uniforms, and then they would have to continually wash them like every single day.
I think in our society today kids spend way too much time trying to fit in and be like everybody else. All the media tells us to do is dress like the stars and become like the stars and all of that nonsense. So if there is in fact bullying based upon the way somebody dresses, the problem is that they are all so self-conscious about not being good enough that they feel the need to bring everybody else down. So taking away one of those reasons is not going to remedy the entire situation. What we need to do is strongly emphasize individuality in kids and each other.
Now I know the school cannot correct the student's need to be accepted all on their own. But they can refrain from taking another outlet of individuality and creativity away from the kids.
Aside from that, there is also the money factor. Not everybody can afford to pay for nice school uniforms, especially when they usually have to be specially ordered and are expensive. Some people just do their shopping at wal-mart, or Goodwill, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that whatsoever. They cannot afford to get these nice sets of school uniforms for the kids to be wearing every day. And maybe they could only afford to get one or two uniforms, and then they would have to continually wash them like every single day.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Journal 29
Okay, so I am fully aware that the following recommendation is going to make me sound like a typical girl teenager with no decent taste in music who simply listens to mainstream along with everybody else and has no appreciation for real music. That being said, I truly believe that Taylor Swift is for everybody. The sad part is, even as I say it I am mocking myself. It sounds cheesy, but it is true.
Unfortunately, the fact that Taylor Swift's music is so mainstream and accepted as popular makes it virtually just as cool to dislike her as it is to like her. "True music" enthusiasts pride themselves in tearing down mainstream artists and meaningless fluff music that are not truly music. And to the point I can agree with that. However, I am more of a lyric enthusiast myself, and I happen to find Taylor Swift's lyrics to be incredibly helpful and applicable to my own life.
Taylor Swift does write love songs, it is true. Her main intended audience is preteen-teenage girls so of course she is going to write a few of those. But they aren't all just oh no, my life is horrible because he is everything to me and I can't live anymore. In fact most
Unfortunately, the fact that Taylor Swift's music is so mainstream and accepted as popular makes it virtually just as cool to dislike her as it is to like her. "True music" enthusiasts pride themselves in tearing down mainstream artists and meaningless fluff music that are not truly music. And to the point I can agree with that. However, I am more of a lyric enthusiast myself, and I happen to find Taylor Swift's lyrics to be incredibly helpful and applicable to my own life.
Taylor Swift does write love songs, it is true. Her main intended audience is preteen-teenage girls so of course she is going to write a few of those. But they aren't all just oh no, my life is horrible because he is everything to me and I can't live anymore. In fact most
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Journal 28
I convince my little brothers and sisters to do things that I want them to do all the time. They are really little so it is actually kind of a joke to convince them, because it does not take too much effort at all. With my brother, all I have to do is play on his little boy pride and act like I do not think he is big enough to do something I want him to do. If I want him to go upstairs and get me something I will just say "Hey Joshua, will you go upstairs and get my computer?" And when he says no, I just say "Oh, yeah. I forgot that you are not big enough to carry it all by yourself. Maybe in a couple years you can." And then he gets all mad and goes "No way! I am so big enough to carry it!" and then off he goes. In my mind, yes, I know it is wrong. But the thing is... I do not really care. Haha. I never ask him to do anything that would get him in trouble or influences him negatively. I simply ask him to do things I am too lazy to do myself.
With my sister it is pretty easy. She is seven and she loves me very much and is constantly trying to please me. So with her if I ask her to do something she usually just does it without a lot of convincing, especially if I say "Hey Lauren, I love you," before I ask her. Then she says I love you too and goes off to do whatever I want. It's a great setup.
My oldest younger brother, Noah, is a little trickier to convince. With him it usually involves some kind of bribe. Usually if I offer to let him play a game on my phone he will do whatever I want. His favorite is this super boring basketball game that he nonetheless loves.
With my sister it is pretty easy. She is seven and she loves me very much and is constantly trying to please me. So with her if I ask her to do something she usually just does it without a lot of convincing, especially if I say "Hey Lauren, I love you," before I ask her. Then she says I love you too and goes off to do whatever I want. It's a great setup.
My oldest younger brother, Noah, is a little trickier to convince. With him it usually involves some kind of bribe. Usually if I offer to let him play a game on my phone he will do whatever I want. His favorite is this super boring basketball game that he nonetheless loves.
Journal 27
Perseverance is one of the most important qualities to have as a human in our world today. Most people are aware of the commonly known idea that life is not fair. Since our youth we have been taught that life is not fair and things will most definitely not always go our way. Because of this, we are likely to fail in many endeavors that we set our minds to at times. Life does not care if you are pursuing your dreams or if the thing you are shooting for is the most important thing you have ever done. Regardless, it will still break your dreams at times and make you feel like you cannot accomplish them. This is when perseverance comes into play. Some people, when faced with the previously mentioned difficulties, would just throw in the towel and surrender. They will simply say that there is no way they will succeed because they failed once, and therefore there is no point in continuing.
But then, there are the other people who have what we like to call perseverance. Perseverance is the act of pressing on, even when the going gets tough. You know, when the going gets tough, the tough get going and all that? That is perseverance. Imagine what we never would have had in our world if people just gave up because things did not always come easy for them. What if Thomas Edison had given up every time he failed at creating the lightbulb? According to legends he failed about a thousand times with as many different prototypes. But instead of deciding to just give up, he said that he did not fail at creating the light bulb a thousand times, he simply discovered a thousand ways how not to create a light bulb. By using that philosophy, he continued to work at it and eventually he created arguably one of the most important things our world has ever developed. He is a great example of why we should always keep persevering.
But then, there are the other people who have what we like to call perseverance. Perseverance is the act of pressing on, even when the going gets tough. You know, when the going gets tough, the tough get going and all that? That is perseverance. Imagine what we never would have had in our world if people just gave up because things did not always come easy for them. What if Thomas Edison had given up every time he failed at creating the lightbulb? According to legends he failed about a thousand times with as many different prototypes. But instead of deciding to just give up, he said that he did not fail at creating the light bulb a thousand times, he simply discovered a thousand ways how not to create a light bulb. By using that philosophy, he continued to work at it and eventually he created arguably one of the most important things our world has ever developed. He is a great example of why we should always keep persevering.
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