Technology

http://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/education

Online learning is a challenge, especially if you do not have much experience with computers. However, it can be helpful because you must learn to navigate and play around with technology to complete assighnments. In the world today technology is everywhere and has advanced so much that it is a necessety to know how to use it. There are positives and negatives to online learning and in class learning. As I have learned from this class writtings can be interperted diffrently and since we must interprt assignments and such, some student may have difficulties with assignments because they are not sure what the teacher is requiring, recieving feedback for any questions we may have takes some time to get back. If you were in class you can see examples and may have a better understanding on what is required from an assighnment and if anytime you feel "stuck" you can ask and get help form your teacher right there and then. I felt the most challenging task on taking an English class online was the revising papers and correcting what the teacher feels needs improvement. I need to speak directly with the teacher and see exactly what it is I am doing wrong. For example with my first essay I had fragment sentences through my paper. I was told to fix them. I did not see where I was using fragment sentences. I had to ask a friend (who is taking english as well) where I was using fragment sentences, my friend read the paper to me and pointed out where I needed to fix and what I can do to avoid doing senteces like that in the future. I needed to be shown in person where I was making those mistakes.
I think the blog was benificial because Its great to get feedback and here ideas of your classmates.
Link

reflection

I had a video but for some reason it would not upload. :(

I have to admit this class was very challenging for me, I spent a lot of time and effort into these assignments, but I feel it was worth it. I feel that I have improved a lot since the beginning of this course. I think I am definitely going to utilize my skills I have learned and apply them in future classes. I have a critical thinking course here soon that has to do with analyzing and I feel this class has prepared me and I hope to do well.

I think the readings that were chosen where interesting and very different then what I expected. I felt Frankenstein was an unusual story to be reading but I can understand why it was chosen and I feel that after reading and critiquing the book myself I got a chance to see a little of the author in the book which I enjoyed.

I think I have met most of the requirements Mrs.. Cline set out for us this semester and feel that my writing process has changed along the way with each essay. I have worked on sentence structure, how to make my voice clear in my writings and have worked on my organization.

The biggest challenge that I feel was of course the first essay and reading poetry but I think sharing on this blog and being able to read my classmates thoughts helped me see what I needed to look for. It was a great experience!

Final Project

Final presentation

View more presentations from Shortygirl

Critiquing a critic

This article was interesting and I can see why Mrs. Cline chose this to help us with the revising of our final project. This article written by Kyle Bishop showed how a professional literary criticism paper presents their argument, how presenting the right sources and articles can truly make a difference in supporting your argument. After reading this I can see why Kyle Bishop felt zombies represented the social and cultural tragedies of the times that zombie films were on the rise. The article was well written and it flowed perfectly to illustrate the popularity of zombie films when the world is facing events such as wars, natural disasters, or even financial crisis. I had written my final paper on Aliens and I had similar feelings associated with aliens. I felt aliens were used as a manifestation of the fears and anxieties that people were having at the time with events such as war and invasion of other countries. I felt this because the way the films portrayed aliens, the scenes of war between the human race and alien invaders. I honestly never imagined how zombies related to events such as natural disaster or even financial crisis as Bishop states in his article. I felt zombies could represent the fears of the spread of deadly diseases, or infections. An example the black plague event in 1348, a disease that spread through Europe. The swine flu or even the Nile virus can be used to describe the fears associated with the spread of deadly diseases. I feel these can be related to zombies, because the way the films portray the reasons for zombies. Most of the zombie films begin with the outbreak of an infection that causes the rise of the undead that just spreads until everyone is infected.

Bishop took a deep look into every detail that revolve around zombies, such as the way they are described and what they represent. They are dismembered figures, in a state of decay and represent death. Bishop used the dismemberment and related it to a scene from the Vietnam War. He used zombies to be the end of social order. Bishop states, the end of the world means the end of capitalism, everything is up for the taking.Law enforcment is no longer in command, I  can see how financial crisis can relate to this as well.  This is an image in many zombie films that I have never paid much attention to.He gave me a lot to think about.  This is a link to an article I found intresting. http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/05/19/zombie.warning/index.html

Aliens

Zareth Martinez

Laura Cline

English 102

October 4 2011

Aliens

One of the earliest and most influential science fiction writers of the twentieth century was Herbert George Wells, and he paved the way to the alien genre with his novel War of the Worlds in 1898. H.G. Wells was born and raised in London. “Wells taught biology until 1893 when he began his career as a novelist (Columbia Encyclopedia 2008). He used his science fiction novels to disguise his own political and social views through entertainment, “In his science fiction, he took the ideas and fears that haunted the mind of his age” (Encyclopedia Britannica).With War of the Worlds, H.G Wells accomplished just that and made in impact in the way aliens are represented. Wells created a tale that portrayed alien monsters to mankind to show how mankind uses their knowledge of technology to create weapons of mass destruction to dominate society; thus begins the fear of aliens. Aliens can be seen as the physical manifestation of our fears of war, nuclear weapons, invasion and now terrorism.

H.G. Wells utilized the setting, time and characters in War of the Worlds to give it a realistic ambiance. His novel entails unfamiliar creatures that land on earth in a three legged mechanical armor to dominate our planet; fighting man with chemical and heat-ray weapons. These weapons where far superior to mans own weapon technology. The alien’s intent was the extermination of the human race to extend their own survival. In the end the Aliens are defeated by disease, what could be perceived as a “common cold,” stopping the terror of the monstrous creatures.

The aliens are described in this novel as monsters hiding behind their mechanical armor. H.G. Wells intended to display how mankind poses themselves as astute masterminds hiding behind their armored tanks to dominant others during battle. He acknowledges how mans knowledge of technology has been utilized in war to gain terror over their enemies. The Alien invasion and attack among the human race is meant to be seen as a ruthlessness act to annihilate and kill with no purpose or mercy to their victims, but only to display their supreme power.

H.G. Wells describes these similarities of behaviors between alien and man in the opening of his story.

“And before we judge them too harshly we must remember what ruthless and utter our own was wrought, not only upon animals, such as the vanished bison and the dodo, but upon its inferior races. The Tasmanian, in spite of their human likeness, were entirely swept out of existence in a war of extermination waged by European immigrants, in space of fifty years. Are we such apostles of mercy as to complain if the Martians warred in the same spirit?” (Wells pg 2).

H.G. Wells summarized his views by regarding mans actions of the past. He showed how man has been the cause of the extinction of precious animals such as the bison-buffalos, and the dodo birds that once dominated our lands. Both were killed for food to maintain humans own survival, but these species also were nearly exterminated for the joy of hunting. The Tasmanians were killed for their land. The quote ends with H.G. Wells pondering his thoughts by thinking if humans have any right to judge others when we have acted like these unknown beasts; planning our extinction for their own survival, just like humans nearly eradicated the bison and dodo birds for our own. The symbolism can be seen on how man and alien are similar. Through war and the use of advance weapons man can prove its dominance over others with far less access of machines.

On October 31 1938, years later after the release of H.G. Wells infamous novel War of the Worlds, The Mercury Theater radio program played what is known as “the greatest Halloween trick of all time” (Marrow 2004). Orson Wells intent was to attract listeners to gain popularity. Orson Wells construed a fake news broadcast using H.G. Wells War of the Worlds novel. Orson Wells used the realism that H.G. Wells created with his story of alien invasion to bring chills among his readers.

Orson Wells created his setting of alien invasion in New Jersey and New York City. He terrified millions of American, and millions across the world. “In Newark, it was reported that twenty families in a single block had rushed into the street with wet towels over their faces to flee the Martians' poison gas. Responding to reports of the gas, police dispatched an ambulance, three police cars, and an emergency squad equipped with special equipment for reviving gas victims” (Marrow 2004). The broadcast was said to have made claims of notifying the National Guard, many soldiers were said to have shown up in their tanks prepared for battle.

“Stories about looming war in Europe had been in the news, and many panicked listeners thought the Martians were actually German military forces mistaken for alien invaders” (Marrow 2004). Marrows article displays the true fear that came along with that broadcast and it was the thought of a war breakout. Ed Marrow comments in his article his thoughts that H.G Wells War of the World provides the issues of how technology was “improving life, but also heightened social conflict and created more powerful weapons of war” (Morrow 2004). This is another issue associated with Aliens, which are often seen as advance intellectual beings.

History proves that the use of technological weapons to dominate is a reality. This illuminates the fear that brings H.G. Wells’ novel to life. In 1988 Saddam attacked using chemical weapon known as mustard gas; he massacred many innocent people in the town of Halabja Iraq, because the town rebelled against his oppression. This event is known as one of the most gruesome crimes in recent history. Adolf Hitler was another one of histories monsters who invaded many countries and was trying to obtain world domination through the use of advanced technological weaponry. He attempted to exterminate the entire Jewish race through the use of gas chambers and other atrocities, in which people were lead to their untimely deaths.

In recent years, after the terrorist attack of 9/11, Aliens have once again reappeared into the spotlight with films such as the remake of War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise and child star Dakota Fanning. In this 2005 film, the aliens are portrayed as terrorists. This movie captures similar images of that of 9/11, with the invasion of aliens causing terror and world panic; planes can be seen crashing into buildings. In this film, the fear is representative of the 9/11terrorist attack.

Another Alien movie, such as The Day the Earth Stood Still, 2008 version, starring Keanu Reeves, the movie portrays nuclear warfare. The aliens, in this case, are trying to warn humanity to change their ways so they may prevent their own self destruction. Both films display similar concepts, one using terrorist attacks and another using technology; such as nuclear weapons.

In a 2005 article published in the Arizona Republic, headlined under Undercurrent of ‘War’: Wells ‘World,’ other Sci-Fi Confront fears of the Times. Richard Nelson writes of alien films being released stating “Films mirrored the unspoken anxiety of our times” (Nelson 2005). The 1953 film version of War of the Worlds was used to explore his ideas of the movie carrying a Cold War message. “We were at risk of invasions from aliens, and whether they were from Mars or the Soviet Union hardly mattered” (Nelson 2005). In many regard humans are aliens. Man have associated Illegal immigrants from foreign countries entering territories that man feels they are not welcome and given them the title of “illegal aliens”. Man uses this term to represent outsiders or invaders. The treatment of outsiders can be seen as inhuman.

It has been over one hundred years since H.G. Wells’ War of the World was released, and the terrifying events that played out in his stories which frighten us to this day. As our world evolves, our technology advances. The creations of dangerous weapons, such as nuclear weapons are possessed by many countries. This technology is foreign to many on Earth; therefore it is alien in nature to the average person. H.G. Wells’ captures the common mans fear, and exploits it by using the unknown to drive his literature. His use of aliens from a foreign realm seems to be a realistic affirmation of what fears we have already developed without an actual alien invasion. Wells appeared to know that people would fear the unknown, and he seems to use symbolism by exploiting their fears which would either lead us to war, or stray us from it.

　

Work Cited

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica 2009.Credo Reference. Web. 04 Nov. 2001

Nilsen, Richard “UNDERCURRENTS OF ‘WAR’: WELLS’ ‘WORLD,’ OTHER SCI-FI CONFRONT FEARS OF THE TIMES” Arizona Republic Newspaper. 1 July 2005: 1. Proquest Research Library. ProQuest Company. Yavapai College. 4 Nov 2011.

Morrow, ED “He Dreamed the Future” The world & I. 19.1 2004: 244-255. Proquest Research Library. Proquest Company. Yavapai College. 4 Nov 2011.

The Day the Earth Stood Still. Dir. Scott Dickerson 20^th Century Fox. 2008. DVD.

The Columbia Encyclopedia. Columbia University Press 2008. Credo Reference. Web. 04 Nov. 2011

War of the World. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Paramount Pictures. 2005. DVD.

Wells, H.G. War of the Worlds. South Bend, IN. Infomotions, Inc. 200. Ebray. WEB. 31 Oct. 2011

Annotated Bibliography

Nilsen, Richard “Undercurrents of 'War': Wells’ ‘World,’ Other SCI-FI

Confronts Fears of Times "Arizona Republic Newspaper. 1 July 2005: 1.

Proquest Research Library. ProQuest Company. Yavapai College. 4 Nov 2011.

 Http://searchProquest.comproxy.yc.edu/docveiws/238640321?accountid=31701

This source provides information and supports my thesis behind Alien monsters. This article published in the Arizona republic reports after the 2001 terrorist attacks of the world trade center, the popularity of Alien invasion films are on a rise. Films such as the remake of H.G. Wells War of the Worlds, (A story I used for my Primary Source.) Invaders on Mars ect. are the images that play out of our current fears.

Morrow, ED “He Dreamed the Future” The world & I. 19.1 2004: 244-255. Proquest Research

Library. ProQuest Company. Yavapai College. 4 Nov 2011.

Http://searchProquest.comproxy.yc.edu/docveiws/235875109?accountid=31701

This source recounts the 1938 fake radio broadcast Orson Wells played on Halloween night that sent the world into a hysteria. Orson broadcasted that we were being attacked by aliens. Orson Wells used H.G. Wells' novel War of the World, but modernized it. Setting the Invasion in New York and New
Jersey. This Souce included the accounts that came along with this "joke" and the thought of aliens actually being millitary invasions and thought of a war outbreak.


The War of the Worlds. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Paramount Pictures.2005. DVD.

This is a film I used as a source. This film is the remake of H.G. Wells novel. This movie potrays the similar fears of alien invaders Wells' wrote about in his novel, only in this film it shows images that can be compared to the 9/11 attack. I use this source to illistrate how Wells' novel and veiw of aliens impact our world today in regard to war and technology and unkown.

Final project proposal

I have decided to use option 2 for my final project. I choose Aliens as the source for my research. I chose this option because I feel I would find this topic fascinating. Aliens is a topic that has been around for a long time. Aliens, questions our existence, intelligence etc. There are countless of stories, movies, documentaries regarding this subject. So I have yet to decide on what texts I want to use, but there are a few I have looked into. I hope to accomplish a well thought out paper that displays aliens to be a physical metaphor that represents humanity’s fear of our own, the unknown (could be the way we think of other countries who are different). Battling invasion such as war with advance technology such as nuclear weapons. I hope I can find sources that will help display a better view on my thesis.
Here is a link that shares views on many metaphors that can be related to aliens.

My Pogress

Dear Mrs. Cline,

I have to admit this class has challenged me in many ways. I have had to write in styles and over subjects that I am new to and not very fond of. Poems for one thing, I have never been a fan of, frankly because I don’t understand them. This also happens to be the first time I had to write a literary analysis essay. Although I had hope to have done better, I found it helpful because I now see ( a little late) where I need to progress. I had difficulty understanding what I was doing wrong. I have to say it makes a BIG difference to have someone, who is also taking an English class, read my essay out loud. I found that whenever I was reading my own paper out loud I was correcting my mistakes as I read. I also realized that I had to many distractions around, and I know it effected my work. Three kids running around screaming, it tends to make it hard to concentrate. I found that I was rushing to get my work done and turned in. I was determined to improve on this last essay, so I had to make changes and moved the time for this class. It is easier to focus after everyone has gone to bed. So I am sure you will be surprised this assignment was done early. Thank goodness for online classes! I hope with each assignment I improve, not only because I would love a good grade, but also because I need to have these writing skills, especially in the field I am pursuing. As for the readings we have been given, I stick firm to my dislike of poems, however, I will say I did enjoy reading Frankenstein. I have heard the story and have seen clips from the movies, I mean who hasn’t? To actually read the book, and see how Frankenstein is still around after a century, and the many arguments that surrounds the novel. It was pretty interesting. I am new to analysis I have written persuasive papers and such and I assumed this would be similar. I was wrong. With this type of essay, we must really look at every aspect in the writing. The tone, format, language. It is a critical process. Looking at the final project it is time to step things up. I need to take what I have learned so far and show, not only to you, but to myself that I am able to successfully complete a well organized written paper. I hope to improve on creating a well thought out thesis, and of course improve on my revising and proofreading skills. I also hope to improve on managing my time since I realized I need it for these assignments.

Sincerely, Zareth Martinez

Draft: Essay 3

Zareth Martinez

Laura Cline

English 102

16 October 2011

A Tragic Tale

Frankenstein has several themes within the story to choose from. Critics have widely debated the interpretation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Some of the topics that have been covered are the dangers of knowledge, abortion, secrecy and the monstrosities revealed within the story. Critics have argued her intent was to illustrate women in a more passive role rather than the typical strong female role. Whatever Mary Shelley’s reason was behind Frankenstein, it cannot be denied it is a tale which reflects in some manner on her life experiences. According to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the story was intended “to be the kind of ghost story that would curdle the blood, and quicken the beating of the heart” (Moers 215). However, after reading the story, it appears the story was more about loss and tragedy than a ghost story. Larry Lipking displayed similar feeling when he wrote “For Frankenstein does not let readers feel good. It presents them with genuine, insoluble problems, not with any easy way out” (319). Many people have experienced their fair share of tragedy throughout life, yet there are those few whose lives seem to be surrounded by tragedy. Mary Shelley demonstrates a perfect example of this with Frankenstein, portraying events of tragedy which are believed to be related to her personal life.

As one examines the story, there appears to be similarities in the characters that portray a side of Mary Shelley’s personal experiences, whether it is an event she experienced, such as her losses, or her feeling of isolation and anger. An anonymous critic provided evidence of this by writing, “This tale [Frankenstein] is evidently the production of no ordinary Writer; and, though we are shocked at the idea of the event on which the fiction is founded…” (Anonymous 196). Mary Shelley’s tragedies can easily go unnoticed to those who are unaware of her life’s story. Mary Shelley in many ways can be compared to Victor Frankenstein, whose immoral choices, and surreptitiousness, affected the lives of others. Both Victor and Mary Shelly were left with remorse for the loved ones whose lives they affected.

“…A women who, as a daughter, mistress and mother was a barer of death” (Moers 223). Mary Shelley was similar to the monster in the story, death seemed to follow her. She was an outcast to society, abandoned and lonely, her feelings were displayed mostly through him. Robert Walton is a character where Mary Shelly reveals her secrets through cryptic notation as his character is developed within her story. In the story, Victor Frankenstein confides in Robert Walton for the reason that he saw himself in Walton. “Walton provides the frame which allows us to glimpse Frankenstein story. He is the wedding guest who can hear the story only because he is so similar to Frankenstein and can engage us because while he is outside the story, he is still like us, implicated in it. He is the link between our world and Frankenstein’s...” (George Levine 213). George Levine, was speaking over realism within Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and illustrated thoughts over similar views on Robert Walton’s Character.

Several articles are subjugated with criticism about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; each having their own perception behind Frankenstein’s creation. However, these critics all share similarities, focusing on comparisons of several experiences within Mary Shelley’s life; whether it was Ellen Moers analysis behind the terrors of motherhood, or Lawrence Lipking’s proposal of apparent evidence within Mary Shelley that illustrates the true meaning of Frankenstein.
“Death and birth were thus hideously mixed in the life of Mary Shelley as in Frankenstein’s workshop of filthy creation. Who can read without shuddering, and without remembering her myth of the birth of a nameless monster, Mary’s journal entry of March 19, 1815, which records the trauma of her loss, when she was seventeen, of her first baby, the little girl who did not live long enough to be given a name” (Moers 221)
In addition, Moers notes that Shelly had a dream of her dead infant being brought back to life. These incidents played out in Frankenstein; simple indications revealed through such facts that the creature was never given a name. The dream was mentioned through Victor as his dream to bring life to lifeless matter. “…I thought that if I could bestow animation upon lifeless mater, I might in process of time... Renew life where death had apparently devoted the body to corruption” (Shelly).

In Lawrence Lipking’s analysis, he referred to the three main characters in Frankenstein to have a lack of education, just like Mary Shelley experienced. “Each of the three narrators of Frankenstein represents a general problem of education as well as a specific aspect of Mary Shelley’s Background” (324). Lawrence Lipking shows how the similarities between Victor Frankenstein and his father are comparable to the estranged relationship between Mary Shelley and her father.
“To some extent that decisive turn or catastrophe of the novel occurs very early, not in any spectacular hazard of life and death but in the cursory glance that the elder Frankenstein casts at the volume of Cornelius Agrippa his son holds out to him. All misfortunes stem from that moment. If only, Victor says, his father had taken pains to explain the powers and practical use of modern science… It is even possible that the train of my ideas would never have received the fatal impulse that led to my ruin.” As for Shelley’s relation with her father, Lawrence comments “Mary Shelley spells out her point.. With didactic directness: I cannot help remarking here that many opportunities instructors posses of directing the attention of their pupils to useful knowledge, which they utterly neglect” (325).

For the monster in Frankenstein, Lawrence Lipking describes “The creature, by contrast does better”. This example can be taken to illustrate the similarity between the monster and Mary Shelley; both educated themselves.

As for the story itself, it began similar to Shelly’s life in which he displays her own misfortune through Victor. Her tragedies were extensive; from the death of her mother, abandonment she felt from her father, to the fact she was left to educate herself at a very young age.

The Monster is another character that embodies certain traits Shelley feels she has. The Monsters feelings of abandonment by Victor his creator can be compared to Shelley and the absence of her mother along with the rejection of her father. Mary Shelly was born by two intellectual writers; this novel could be considered proof of her ability to provide symbolism between her life and her writing, which shows how great of a writer she is. Mary Shelley seems to describe the Monster as a hideous being that was created through tragedy, misunderstood feelings and a need for understanding. Ellen Moers analysis of the Monster appears to be related to the tragedies Mary Shelley experienced.
“..Critics have begun to see Victor Frankenstein’s disgust at the sight of his creation as a study of postpartum depression, as a representation of maternal rejection of a newborn infant, and to relate the entire novel to Mary Shelley’s mixed feelings about motherhood. Having lived through an unwanted pregnancy from a man married to someone else only to see that baby die...” (Moers 246)
Frankenstein may perhaps be known as one of the most mysterious piece of literature for its time. An unimaginable tale that posses its countless controversies. This novel will continue to have critics examining, dissecting, assessing, for centuries to come; trying to find its true meaning and inspiration. Mary Shelley is the only one who will ever know. Regardless, it is hard to argue that whether subconsciously or not, pieces of Mary Shelly portrays her life’s grief, pain and anger that will forever be embedded in Frankenstein. So whenever there is an interpretation it will undoubtedly be referred back to a time in Mary Shelley’s life.

Work Cited

Shelley, Mary, and J. Paul. Hunter. Frankenstein. New York: W.W. Norton &, 1996. Print.

Moers, Ellen. “Female Gothic: The Monster’s Mother.” Frankenstein. Ed. J. P. Hunter. New York: Norton & Company, 1996. 214-224. Print.



Lipking, Lawrence. “Frankenstein, the True Story; or, Rousseau Judges Jean-Jacques.” Frankenstein. Ed. J. P. Hunter. New York: Norton & Company, 1996. 313-330. Print.



Anonymous. From Edinburgh Magazine (March 1818). Frankenstein. Ed. J. P. Hunter. New York: Norton & Company, 1996. 191-196. Print.

FEMAL GOTHIC: THE MONSTER'S MOTHER

Ellen Moers wrote “Female Gothic: The Monsters Mother” to present writing styles in the eighteen century, in particular to women writers. Gothic writing was the choice for many women writers this style aimed to bring a current of fear through out their readers. Moers provides numerous of examples of authors and their gothic style. She focuses of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” written in 1818 because she felt her book changed they style of gothic writing into what it is today, science fiction. “Frankenstein” did not provide the typical women victim, heroisms, or happy ending. “Frankenstein” presented fear in terror in the creation of life and motherhood, rather than the happy fairy tales most associate with new life. Moers believes Mary’s own life experience, her dealings with death and birth through her own life and her tragedy with her own child bearing experience contributed to the creation of “Frankenstein.”

I did read “Frankenstein” differently than Ellen Moers. I believed this story was about the dangerous of knowledge and taking it upon ones self, and trying to play god. After learning more about Mary Shelly and her life experience, I can see how Moers article suggested “Frankenstein” was about the terror of motherhood. Also her statement of Mary being a mother herself contributed to her style of writing. She also provided readings from Mary’s journal and cited lines through out the book that related to a feeling or tragedy in her life and projected it in Frankenstein’s own feelings with the monster he created.
More on Ellen Moers.
http://library.ucf.edu/frankenstein/Shelley.asp

Revision

Getting started can be the most difficult step for me in the writing process. Once I do begin, I feel I am on a role and just begin writing; however I have so many Ideas I feel I can be all over the place. Organizing a well written paper that gets my thoughts across to my readers to where they can truly understand the purpose for my paper is my true weakness. I do find myself revising my paper more that once and I make many changes each time. I feel it is great to revise a paper once it has been finished. I encounter areas where improvement can be made, and catch grammar mistakes. One thing I feel is the most important part of revising is to have another pair of eyes. Someone other than yourself will catch something you had missed despite the many times you examine your work. This will definitely be one of the main things I will do for the revision of my last essay. I will also allow myself plenty of time to take on any corrections. I have days where I need a break and give myself time to process things over. I will be able to come back the second day and that missing piece will have came to me. This is a link that may be helpful to get you on the write path to a better paper.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/revising/kristianderson13/writingbinder3.jpg?o=10

Frankenstein

“When I found so astonishing a power placed within my hands, I hesitated a long time concerning the manner in which I should employ it. Although I possessed the capacity of bestowing animation, yet to prepare a frame for the reception of it, with all it’s intricacies of fibers, muscles and veins still remained a work of inconceivable difficulty and labour. I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like myself or one of similar organization; but my imagination was too much exalted by my first success to permit me to doubt of my ability to give life to an animal as complex and wonderful as man” (Shelly, 31).

I found this paragraph to be significant, this was the moment when the decision of the creation of Frankenstein came about. After Victor spent countless hours discovering the cause of life and became fascinated in matters of the non-living. He contemplated how he would exploit his new found knowledge. So far I have gathered through victors reflection of his background, he presents accounts that lead him to his misfortune and landed him on Captain Walton’s ship sharing his tale of dangerous of the power of knowledge and trying to play “god” it can cause. I feel this was the tone for the story Mary Shelling was trying to portray.

Victor shares how his nights and days were spent into his creation his life was drowned in his work he had joyous thoughts of gratitude from those he would give existence to. After all the hard work his creation was complete and the moment his first breath was taken victor’s bliss was overwhelmed with disgust when he realized what he had leashed upon the world. He feels by sharing his tale he may prevent Walton from repeating the same mistake, that although he did have the knowledge it may not always be wise to take part in matters that were not meant for man to achieve.
This a link that shares a poem of frankenstien that I enjoyed.


picture from http://dcolton7.glogster.com/frankenstien/

Feild of skulls

Zareth Martinez

Laura Cline

English 102

15 September 2011

Suicidal

Mary Karr’s poem Field of skulls gives the reader a forbidding and sinister glimpse into the deepest buried thoughts that creeps around ones mind. For he, the speaker is someone who is lost in thought of the “darkness” lurking about. He presents an emptiness for life, for this his thoughts manifest into a disturbing conviction that many souls are terrorized by mischievous sprites. He ponders the idea that anyone can be capable of just about anything; it can be any unsuspecting individual such as your neighbor, your friend, even yourself. He is at this time fighting his own inner demon who has given up on all hope of life and sees no good is left in the world. Overall, the speaker is contemplating suicide and weighing out his reasons to die.

The speakers tone is edgy and chilling, he has conveyed no difference in life and death. The "nights scrim" is a perfect way to think about the authors mindset, an illusion filled mind that has broken from reality trying to gain serenity through suicide, to find an alternative way out from all the despondent in his mind’s eye. The mention of the skulls, is a connection between the living and dead this seems to be a theme of this poem.

The beginning of the poem opens with the speaker illuminating his state of depression, his isolation from others and views of despair. The linguistic features are subtle and to the point.

“Stare hard enough at the fabric of the night,

and if you’re predisposed to dark--let’s say

the window you’ve picked is a black

postage stamp you spend hours at,

sleepless, drinking gin after the I love

Lucy”

(Karr lines 1-6)

The poem provides contrast imagery to the readers mind.
“--stare like your eyes have force, and behind

any night’s taut scrim will come the forms

you expect pressing from the other side.”

(Karr lines 7-10)

In this verse the speaker continues to reference darkness, almost as if it is an inner darkness within. The speaker uses Taut scrim as an imagery, scrim is a backdrop, cloth used in theaters to create illusions using light that can only be seen from behind . This can be interpreted as the speakers sight of darkness or source of pain. How he will only catch sight of the light, which is his peace, or happiness, would only be seen or felt through death. When acknowledging monsters such as Adolf Hitler and Uncle Joe (Josef Stalin) two of the mankind's most infamous criminals towards humans and the carnage they committed seems to be a driving force of evidence as to how he is viewing the world. He appears to have lost faith in mankind and views the world as a dark place filled with false illusions, such as happiness or moral.

The poem then shifts to his paranoia, his mind fills with the presumption that his life will come to bitter end.

"that disgruntled mail clerk from your job

has already scratched your name on a bullet--that’s him

rustling in the azaleas."

(Karr lines 19-21)

He appeals the thought that someone has already intended on killing him, giving justification to take his own life, rather than giving someone else the gratification of doing so. This speaker also insinuates that life has much less beauty and a lot of ugliness. "you stare, and furious stare,

confident their are no gods out there."

Again this is depression and justification for suicide.

“If the skulls are there--

let’s say they do press toward you

against nights scrim-- could they not stare

with slack jawed envy at the fine flesh

that cover your scalp, the numbered hairs,

at the force your hands hold?”

(Mary Karr lines 29-34)

As the poem came to an end, the speaker reflectively elicits of his own actions which creates a debacle in his mind regarding his actions being justified? Is he committing sin as those monsters? Is it fair for him to go through such a horrendous act and take his own life, when so many who’s life where cut short long for life.

Work Citation

Karr, Mary “Field of Skulls” poetryfoundation.org. Poetry foundation

2011. Web.

I believe I am getting the concept of analyzing, well at least I hope! I have notice I have difficuly ending a paper so if anyone has any advise I would appreciate it ..Thanks !

The Second Coming

The Second Coming written by W.B Yates (1865-1939)  sparked a reaction out of me.  This week marked the 10th  anniversary of the tragic day of 9/11/2001 and everywhere I went I was reminded of it. The news, bill boards, newspaper, even church sermons spoke of  the unspeakable merciless acts human kind can do to one another. As I read this poem I thought of this tragic event and several others our world has endured and brought upon ourselves such as; The great depression, the holocaust, slavery, and the many wars that were fought. Today our country continues to face its own tribulations.  I did have to look up the definitions of a few words to understand the context of the words used in poem for it to all come together.  As I read the first paragraph his words painted a gloomy picture of our a world that is constantly changing and growing and expressed how he foresees mankind self destructing, how we have become cruel in nature and don’t cherish our world and all that we have. Yates feels there is a need to reset and rebuild our lives, or must we face the extinction of life so we can begin all over again?  In the first paragraph Yates uses a falcon as representation of humans (they prey on others smaller than themselves in this situation its the earth and each other) he states how there is nothing but chaos seen around the world in this case he may be talking about wars that he has witnessed in his time and sees this trend of killing is spreading throughout the years, people are becoming more careless and ruthless innocence in people is no longer seen when he states “The blood-dimmed tide is loosed and is everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned;” (5-6 ).  Yates goes on to speak  that those who are malicious are passionate to takeover and create mayhem, and are succeeding.
“Surely some revelation at hand, Surly the second coming is at hand” (9-10).
 Here Yates feels throughout all these viciousness acts there is good to come in the end, our second chance to redeem ourselves will come in the end.  Yet Yates wonder if it is possible for us to change when he writes “When a vast image out of spiritus mundi Troubles my sight; a waste of dessert sand.”(12-13). “A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun is moving its slow thighs, while all about it”(15-16).
Yates finishes this poem with the line “slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?” I felt he was saying do we have a chance or must earth be reborn.   For more information on Yates click here.
Picture provided by:
http://www.discogs.com/artist/William+Butler+Yeats?anv=W.B.+Yates&filter_anv=1

Summary VS Analysis

Summery vs analysis1

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Good Readers and Good Writers

http://www.theworldowesyoualiving.org/PAGES/wiseoldmen2page.htm

In the article “Good Readers and Good Writers” I believe Nabokov considers a good reader acquires special characteristics. These characteristics consist of having an imagination, an artistic sense, a good memory and most importantly a special tool, the dictionary. He states a good reader must open his mind to unknown words and must be willing to learn there meaning to really understand what the author is trying to express. He believes that a good reader begins a book with an receptive mind and must be prepared to re-read a book several times to truly comprehend the book.

I do agree with Nabokov when he states that one must have an imagination to truly enjoy and appreciate the authors work. As one reads they must use there imagination and artistic sense to see the pages play out in front of them, they must be able to place the character in his setting, to picture what the character looks like from hair color, there stand, their voice, even down the wrinkles on his/her forehead. Basically allowing yourself to be placed in a whole new magical world.

I think I can be a good reader at times, but I feel it depends on my interest in what I am reading. I have found myself re-reading books or pages over and over if I feel I’m not quit understanding what is being said and I do find myself reading something new that I had missed the first time around. I found a link that gives a few book suggestions that may help improve your reading and get you to do some serious thinking.

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