Light at the End of The Tunnel for Literature

As I wrote on my previous blog for Advanced Comp. the end of the semester is nearing and I am getting very excited! We have one essay and our group Web page left! The web page has been quite an enjoyable experience. It really was not as tough and hairy as I expected. I actually enjoyed doing it and it did not take me much time at all. This class overall has been very enjoyable and I have learned so much about literature and my writing. By taking this class with Dr. Hochenauer it has also given me some ideas for teaching techniques when I start my own career.

End of the Semester

Hello again!

We are coming to the end of the semester and we are getting so close to Christmas! (YAY) I understood last week as a no post week due to the short week, so I hope I did not misunderstand that note. The only think left in the class is our Research paper, and I am terribly nervous about it. I probably would not be so nervous if I would just start on it. Ten pages sounds so scary to me because I have never written such an in depth paper. BUT, I know I can do it, I just need to get started. After I get my thesis and a few sources going it will fly by! Ok, enough about class work! The season is finally here. The malls are full of Holiday shoppers and everywhere you go there are people hanging lights on their house. I love this time of year, but I haven't put a tree up, or any lights outside for that matter. Honestly, all I can think of it having to take it all down! Lazy. . .I know. Any who, I need to finish up this weeks course work!

Be Thankful!

As we draw near Thanksgiving it is really a time to slow down our busy lifestyles and realize what is truly important. To me, the most important thing is family and friends. I have very few true friends and I am thankful for that. It is very hard to find a true friend, and very few come along in a lifetime. I am very close with my family and I am so thankful to have the relationships that I do with them.

Earlier this week UCO lost a student to a terrible car accident. Although I didn't know her, it has really impacted me and the way I look at things. We all think it couldn't happen to us, but you just never know when your time is up. Not only did she loser her life, but her husband lost his wife, and her four children lost their mother. To add to the tragedy her ten year old daughter was in the car with her, but did not suffer any physical injuries. I can't imagine having to witness the death of my mother. It is truly heartbreaking to think of their last moments together. Things like this really makes us realize that we need to slow down and take a look around. I am so fortunate to have a family that loves and supports each other they way we do.

I hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving holiday and I hope everyone can spend it with the ones they love.

The Goblin Market

Christina's Rossetti's "The Goblin Market," was a very intriguing poem to me. This poem captures the idea of women empowerment by the two sisters coming together for each other. The poem is about evil Goblins that are always trying to get the girls to eat their poisonous but delicious fresh fruit. Laura gives in and eats some of the fruit and because of this she falls ill almost to the point of death. Lizzie is very strong minded and knows what will happen to her if she gives in. This poem really reminds me of the Biblical story of Adam and Eve. The best part of the poem is when Lizzie does what she has to help her sister. She faces evil and over comes her own fears to help Laura.

Say Over Again...

Most of us have felt that heart wrenching pain of a break up, or felt that pain of a doomed relationship. There is no other feeling like a broken heart. Elizabeth Browning's, "Say Over Again," was able to capture these feelings all over again. In this poem, she writes,

Say over again, and yet once over again,
That thou dost love me. Though the word repeated
Should seem 'a cuckoo song,' as thou dost treat it,
Remember, never to the hill or plain,
Valley and wood, without her cuckoo-strain
Comes the fresh Spring in all her green completed.
Belovèd, I, amid the darkness greeted
By a doubtful spirit-voice, in that doubt's pain,
Cry, 'Speak once more---thou lovest!' Who can fear
Too many stars, though each in heaven shall roll,
Too many flowers, though each shall crown the year?
Say thou dost love me, love me, love me---toll
The silver iterance!---only minding, Dear,
To love me also in silence with thy soul.

I think Browning is writing about a relationship at the end of its rope. I think she is holding on to something that she knows is done but doesn't want to admit it to herself. I don't think the speaker is asking for too much, you aren't asking too much when you love someone. I enjoyed this poem quite a bit because I think it is something we can all relate to in life.

Cleaning, Cooking, and Drinking Beer

Isn't it funny how male/female stereotypes still exist in our society. Sure, I know there are several men who believe women aren't or shouldn't be equal, but have you realized just how many stereotypes are in our media? In my advanced composition class we were asked to take a different look at advertisements. Since I have done so, I have really realized just how the media tries to play to a certain audience. It is frustrating. Have you ever noticed that beer commercials usually show men drinking and having a good time while a woman works? Have you noticed how sometimes men are the only ones who can drive a truck? On the other hand, cleaning supplies, raising a child, and cooking are all things that only women do. Do you think it is accurate that the woman's place in society should still be the homemaker that cleans, cooks, takes care of the kids, and has no time to sit around, have a beer, and watch a football game? I know it's not a typical thought of women sitting around watching football drinking beer, but it isn't THAT unusual.

A BIG Misunderstanding!

Ah Frankenstein! When I was a child I was afraid of monsters and Frankenstein was one of them that I feared! I would be in a dark place with a large giant chasing me. I couldn't get his square head out of my mind and that screw that stuck out of his neck...oh my! I would run and run and...then I would wake up. This is just a dream or image some of us have of Frankenstein; however, what ever gave us this image? I don't remember seeing movies with a scary Frankenstein when I was a child but over the years we have began to misunderstand him more and more. This image is nothing more than another stereotype created about a man that doesn't appear "nice." I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to study this because it is proof of our ignorance and there is much more to Frankenstein than many of us knew about.

A Tube Full of Lies! (Adv comp)

With our first essay being due this week, I have really started paying attention to different television shows and how they all unfold. Obviously we have the typical reality show that unfold the way people live and then there are the prime time television dramas. Our essay assignment encouraged us to look critically into a show to find logical fallacies. When we say we are watching "garbage" or that all television shows are "garbage" we really aren't far off the mark. All of the popular television shows that are on today are full of logical fallacies. These shows have to build a story line around them because that is the only way to find a show that will catch our attention. Pretty sad if you ask me. It is sad that we have to turn on the television to tune into something that isn't the least bit accurate. On the other hand though, people in this day in age strive for the drama! It is apart of our life, and who can blame us for wanting to escape from a long stressful day on the job or from a stressful class. It is just unfortunate that we are so intrigued by false things when we could be intrigued by educational or motivational things.

Can he have them both? (Eng. Lit)

As we are wrapping up our second week in our English Literature class since 1800, we have been exposed to a few different style of writings. Byron, Percy Shelley and Keats are all intriguing writers that do a great job of capturing the readers attention. My favorite reading of the week was Byron's poem, ""When We Two Parted." This poem grabs your interest and full attention from the beginning and allows you to read on causing your mind to explore different thoughts. Through out this short poem you are able to take away a great sense of love and desire from Byron. The reader is able to understand how in love he is with the unnamed woman. As we read on, we are able to come up with the idea that with this undying love, he will never be able to pursue her as he may wish too. We learn that this is a promiscuous situation that should not be happening. Yes, it is wrong, but how can you blame a couple when they share such a deep love for each other? Knowing they will never be able to really be together is the biggest heartache in this story. You can feel his heart yearning, yet breaking for her as the poem comes to an end.

Reports: Halloween has been cancelled (adv.comp.)

Hello all! It is once again Friday afternoon and I am counting down the clock to get off of work to start my weekend! This weekend will be a busy one, full of errands, homework, and Halloween parties. Halloween...bleh! I must say, this is not my favorite holiday, and I am amazed at the number of people who LOVE Halloween. Since I was a kid I have hated it. Sure, I went out and did my trick o' treating but after a few hours of that, I was done. Tomorrow's Halloween party is a huge party that my boss is throwing. You have to dress up in order to come as well. I haven't dressed up since...I don't even know when! As I have spent so much of time this month searching for costumes I have really come to realize that so many females use Halloween as an excuse to show as much skin as possible. I mean, you can find a cute, sexy outfit with out showing your ''who who" or something else! It just irritates me, because, from now until Christmas we will be seeing picture after picture of everyone all dressed and hoed up! Just call me the Halloween scrooge, but I'll be glad when October is over!

William Blake

So far in the course English Literature since 1800, I have really enjoyed the readings by William Blake. His style is very different from the styles of poets I have studied in my American Literature class. I enjoyed the introduction to Blake's Songs of Innocence the best. I enjoyed these not only because it is simple, but the tone is upbeat and child like. It was easy to get into and want to read on. "The Chimney Sweeper," however was drastically different and I did not enjoy this one as much. I found it very sad and depressing because this type of child abuse is happening all over the world as I type. "The Garden of Love," brings up the issue of freedom versus religion. I found this one interesting and I thought it contained a lot of symbolic meanings. I am really looking forward to reading more of his work as we go along.

Looking Forward to Fall Break

Here we are once again! We have finally adjusted to the new semester and most of us have survived all of the Mid-Terms. Many of us are barely getting by and barely able to get out of bed in the mornings to make that morning class. Thinking our brains are close to being fried is not a far fetched thought either. Thankfully, once upon a time, someone came up with Fall Break! Fall Break comes at the perfect time in the Fall semester. It's not too early, not too late, not too cold, and not too hot. It is the perfect time for a long weekend. I like to spend this time relaxing and getting geared up for a great second half of the semester! I am going to Lake Texoma, probably for the last time this year. I am going to spend my time with my Mom, Dad and our schnauzers!