I think if I had lived in the time of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman I would have had to go with Emily Dickinson as far as the person that I would have wanted to read the most.
Emily Dickinson has written a lot of poems that touched my heart in some way. I really like her poem "Hope is the thing with feathers" and also "I am nobody, who are you?" I think that they touch the lives of people who are more introverted than anything. Now I am not exactly what one would call introverted exactly. I spend a lot of time speaking my mind about things. However, I believe that there is kind of an introvert living inside everyone at least to some extent. Some people are only extroverts on the outside so that they keep people at a distance from what is going on on the inside. Some people act as though all of their emotions are projected on the surface, when in fact those are only surface emotions and their true emotions are still hidden deep inside. Now I'm not saying that I hide all of my internal emotions by being an extrovert, but I can understand how some people would use that logic in order to protect themselves.
One thing that I would have found difficult about being a fan of Emily Dickinson, though, was that she kept to herself so much of the time. When I am a fan of someone I like to at least be able to get a glimpse of what their true lives are like. This is not because I'm some kind of crazed fan, but rather because I like to make sure that they are not complete hypocrites. If there's one thing that drives me completely insane it's hypocrisy. So I would have to make sure that she was truly the kind of person that was displayed in her writings and not simply a poser of some sort.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Modernism vs. Realism Reflection
There are a lot of similarities between the literary genre of Realism and that of Modernism. They both took place when the country was going through a rough time. However, there are also many differences in the aspects of the two genres that makes them very different.
Modernism is a genre that has been under much debate about when exactly it came about and ended. Some people argue that it started as early as the turn of the twentieth century and end as late as the end of World War two (Werlock). Some say that it never even ended, and Postmodernism is simply another name for Modernism itself. However, most people seem to think that it began in 1922 with two works that were written by James Joyce and Eliot (Werlock).
The basic idea of Modernism was the shock factor. The goal of Modernist writers was to create a genre that completely changed literature and brought a new and fresh way of writing to the world (Werlock). The writings of Modernism encourage a new look at the idea of a hero and the American Dream in a way that no genre had done before. For example, in Modernism the hero does not always have to be a perfect and upstanding person like it always seemed to have been before. Sometimes the reader may not even like the hero, and they may think that the choices that he or she makes are not correct. This idea of a new kind of hero was brought about for the first time by these Modernist writers. Their genre was a way of rebelling against the old ways of writing and creating something for themselves. This attitude was probably a result of all of the devastation that occurred at the start of World War One. Everything was changing around them, so they decided to change something that they could actually control.
Realism is a genre that was created as a result of the Civil War. It was supposed to be a time of healing and redemption during which the country was rebuilding itself. However, there was a big dilemma in the fact that Realism and Romanticists were fighting it out in the literary world about which writing style was more effective. However, Realism was not so much an entirely original style of writing as it was a combination of writing styles that came before it. Realism was a combination of Romanticism and Rationalism. It involved a hero who usually represented what was good and pure in life, but who was forced into a horrible situation that tried him or her emotionally and physically.
Modernism and Realism are similar in the fact that they both come after wars, but they are very different in the content and writing styles that each one portrays. They both focus on entirely different goals as to what their messages are trying to convey. However, they are both important views, and I believe it is important for people to get equal doses of both types of writing.
Selected Bibliography
Werlock, Abby H. P. "modernism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CASS589&SingleRecord=True (accessed April 21, 2011).
Modernism is a genre that has been under much debate about when exactly it came about and ended. Some people argue that it started as early as the turn of the twentieth century and end as late as the end of World War two (Werlock). Some say that it never even ended, and Postmodernism is simply another name for Modernism itself. However, most people seem to think that it began in 1922 with two works that were written by James Joyce and Eliot (Werlock).
The basic idea of Modernism was the shock factor. The goal of Modernist writers was to create a genre that completely changed literature and brought a new and fresh way of writing to the world (Werlock). The writings of Modernism encourage a new look at the idea of a hero and the American Dream in a way that no genre had done before. For example, in Modernism the hero does not always have to be a perfect and upstanding person like it always seemed to have been before. Sometimes the reader may not even like the hero, and they may think that the choices that he or she makes are not correct. This idea of a new kind of hero was brought about for the first time by these Modernist writers. Their genre was a way of rebelling against the old ways of writing and creating something for themselves. This attitude was probably a result of all of the devastation that occurred at the start of World War One. Everything was changing around them, so they decided to change something that they could actually control.
Realism is a genre that was created as a result of the Civil War. It was supposed to be a time of healing and redemption during which the country was rebuilding itself. However, there was a big dilemma in the fact that Realism and Romanticists were fighting it out in the literary world about which writing style was more effective. However, Realism was not so much an entirely original style of writing as it was a combination of writing styles that came before it. Realism was a combination of Romanticism and Rationalism. It involved a hero who usually represented what was good and pure in life, but who was forced into a horrible situation that tried him or her emotionally and physically.
Modernism and Realism are similar in the fact that they both come after wars, but they are very different in the content and writing styles that each one portrays. They both focus on entirely different goals as to what their messages are trying to convey. However, they are both important views, and I believe it is important for people to get equal doses of both types of writing.
Selected Bibliography
Werlock, Abby H. P. "modernism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CASS589&SingleRecord=True (accessed April 21, 2011).
Emily Dickinson Poem Reflection
“Hope is the Thing with Feathers” by Emily Dickinson is a very, for lack of a better term, hopeful poem. It is all about the way that hope has followed her all of her life.
The first stanza says “Hope is the thing with feathers-- that perches in the soul—and sings the tune without the words—And never stops—at all. (Dickinson)” I think this is a line full of a lot of great imagery. When one thinks of feathers, one naturally thinks about softness and comfort. Most people consider downy and soft things to be comforting and bring a smile to your face. I believe that it why she chose the idea of feathers lining hope. Next, she discusses how it perches in the soul (Dickinson). When one thinks of their soul they think of their innermost self and what is important to them, so the image of a comforting and fuzzy thing taking residence in your soul is a very lovely image. Next it discusses how the fuzzy thing within your soul sings a tune without words and never stops (Dickinson). Because it says that it sings a tune without words, it makes me think of the melody of my favorite song being played by a fuzzy creature within my soul. This whole image is very peaceful and tranquil, which is the idea of the imagery in the poem.
The second stanza discusses that the bird continues to sing even stronger when a Gale comes along (Dickinson). The word gale is capitalized in this line and I think that this puts emphasis on it and makes the reader understand that this is a very strong wind and yet the bird is still able to continue its song because of how strong it is (Dickinson). This stanza also discusses that no storm would be able to abash the tiny bird (Dickinson). This imagery of a very strong storm in which the bird is simply perched in my soul continuing to sing makes me once again feel comforted and strong due to its presence.
The last stanza discusses that this little bird of hope has continued to sing strongly even through the “chillest land” and the “strongest sea (Dickinson).” She then says that it had never asked a crumb of her, even in Extremity (Dickinson). The fact that the word Extremity is capitalized makes the reader realize just how strong this instance is, yet the bird still does not even ask a crumb of the person to which it sings. The use of the word crumb is also significant because it provides a very realistic and common image for the reader to compare to. It seems important to Dickinson to make you realize the significant difference between the Extremity and the crumb that the bird of hope can fight through.
“Hope is the thing with feathers” is a very visually strong poem about how strong hope can be in our lives. Through her depiction of hope as a small bird that lives in one’s soul, the reader can truly feel the hope within himself or herself.
Selected Bibliography
Dickinson, Emily. "Hope is the Thing with Feathers." The Literature Network: Online classic literature, poems, and quotes. Essays & Summaries. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2011.
The first stanza says “Hope is the thing with feathers-- that perches in the soul—and sings the tune without the words—And never stops—at all. (Dickinson)” I think this is a line full of a lot of great imagery. When one thinks of feathers, one naturally thinks about softness and comfort. Most people consider downy and soft things to be comforting and bring a smile to your face. I believe that it why she chose the idea of feathers lining hope. Next, she discusses how it perches in the soul (Dickinson). When one thinks of their soul they think of their innermost self and what is important to them, so the image of a comforting and fuzzy thing taking residence in your soul is a very lovely image. Next it discusses how the fuzzy thing within your soul sings a tune without words and never stops (Dickinson). Because it says that it sings a tune without words, it makes me think of the melody of my favorite song being played by a fuzzy creature within my soul. This whole image is very peaceful and tranquil, which is the idea of the imagery in the poem.
The second stanza discusses that the bird continues to sing even stronger when a Gale comes along (Dickinson). The word gale is capitalized in this line and I think that this puts emphasis on it and makes the reader understand that this is a very strong wind and yet the bird is still able to continue its song because of how strong it is (Dickinson). This stanza also discusses that no storm would be able to abash the tiny bird (Dickinson). This imagery of a very strong storm in which the bird is simply perched in my soul continuing to sing makes me once again feel comforted and strong due to its presence.
The last stanza discusses that this little bird of hope has continued to sing strongly even through the “chillest land” and the “strongest sea (Dickinson).” She then says that it had never asked a crumb of her, even in Extremity (Dickinson). The fact that the word Extremity is capitalized makes the reader realize just how strong this instance is, yet the bird still does not even ask a crumb of the person to which it sings. The use of the word crumb is also significant because it provides a very realistic and common image for the reader to compare to. It seems important to Dickinson to make you realize the significant difference between the Extremity and the crumb that the bird of hope can fight through.
“Hope is the thing with feathers” is a very visually strong poem about how strong hope can be in our lives. Through her depiction of hope as a small bird that lives in one’s soul, the reader can truly feel the hope within himself or herself.
Selected Bibliography
Dickinson, Emily. "Hope is the Thing with Feathers." The Literature Network: Online classic literature, poems, and quotes. Essays & Summaries. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Apr. 2011.
Journal 43
I really love Jazz music. When I was in middle school I played the saxophone and therefore I have always been attracted to jazz music. I think that it is one of the best forms of music out there in which feelings and stories can truly be conveyed. One senses the musician's every emotion as they play out the song.
I was not here for the day that we listened to the jazz song in class, but I have listened to a fair amount of jazz music anyway. I think that the fact that most instruments that are used in jazz music are played using different strengths of breath by the musician, it is easier for that type of music to display feelings. Based upon the strength of their breath you can tell how they are feeling. When the notes are coming out strong and full of life, one gets the feeling of joy or happiness. When the notes are coming out lazily and luxuriously one thinks that the musician is in love. When the notes come out weak and slow, one could reasonably assume that the musician is depressed or losing strength in some way. However, sometimes the quiet, gentle music can also be working to represent a type of quiet and peace that the musician is feeling at a certain point in time.
When the music goes from slow and soft to loud and fast incredibly quickly, the listener gets the feeling that some action sequence is taking place in the storyline. Then when it hits the final notes and starts to quiet down again, you get the feeling that it has been resolved. The best thing about jazz music is that it tells a different story to everyone. Your own mind creates a story based upon what's going through it at the time, and therefore the song touches you personally and makes you feel as though it were written just for you. I think the whole concept is very soothing.
I was not here for the day that we listened to the jazz song in class, but I have listened to a fair amount of jazz music anyway. I think that the fact that most instruments that are used in jazz music are played using different strengths of breath by the musician, it is easier for that type of music to display feelings. Based upon the strength of their breath you can tell how they are feeling. When the notes are coming out strong and full of life, one gets the feeling of joy or happiness. When the notes are coming out lazily and luxuriously one thinks that the musician is in love. When the notes come out weak and slow, one could reasonably assume that the musician is depressed or losing strength in some way. However, sometimes the quiet, gentle music can also be working to represent a type of quiet and peace that the musician is feeling at a certain point in time.
When the music goes from slow and soft to loud and fast incredibly quickly, the listener gets the feeling that some action sequence is taking place in the storyline. Then when it hits the final notes and starts to quiet down again, you get the feeling that it has been resolved. The best thing about jazz music is that it tells a different story to everyone. Your own mind creates a story based upon what's going through it at the time, and therefore the song touches you personally and makes you feel as though it were written just for you. I think the whole concept is very soothing.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Job Shadowing Reflection
I had a decent time at my job shadowing yesterday. However, I think I eliminated at least one branch of dietetics that I was exposed to yesterday. I do not think that the second person that I shadowed was employed in the kind of career that I would like to pursue. Her job was to go to the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital and take care of the patients in that unit's dietary concerns. Mainly that revolved around tube feeding or pureed foods. Most of them cannot swallow and some of them had tubes in their mouths to help them breathe so they could not even have a tube in their mouth to feed them, it had to be fed through their nose.
The first person I shadowed had an interesting job though. She worked at Memorial Clinic and saw outpatients. Basically most of her job is having people come into her office and discuss with her the kind of ways they can alter their lifestyle in order to be healthier. She told me the majority of her patients are diabetic, therefore it is incredibly important for them to get the right kind of nutrition to get their blood sugar levels in a safe range. She also saw children who did not get the proper nutrition for any number of reasons.
I also got to discuss college plans and internships with the ladies that I shadowed. They told me the requirements I would have to meet in order to become a nutritionist. I talked to the first lady about how there are other ways to go with it, such as becoming a nutritionist who deals with predominately healthy people that just need to know how to make themselves better.
Overall I thought that it was a very rewarding experience, although I do not think I will be pursuing the careers that these ladies held.
O
The first person I shadowed had an interesting job though. She worked at Memorial Clinic and saw outpatients. Basically most of her job is having people come into her office and discuss with her the kind of ways they can alter their lifestyle in order to be healthier. She told me the majority of her patients are diabetic, therefore it is incredibly important for them to get the right kind of nutrition to get their blood sugar levels in a safe range. She also saw children who did not get the proper nutrition for any number of reasons.
I also got to discuss college plans and internships with the ladies that I shadowed. They told me the requirements I would have to meet in order to become a nutritionist. I talked to the first lady about how there are other ways to go with it, such as becoming a nutritionist who deals with predominately healthy people that just need to know how to make themselves better.
Overall I thought that it was a very rewarding experience, although I do not think I will be pursuing the careers that these ladies held.
O
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