Final Blog Post

Three blogs that I think are my best work? Well I think my Villanelle was one of my better works. Only because I finally wrote a piece of poetry for the first time in a very long time. I am not even sure if it qualifies as a villanelle. But it just felt nice to finally put some poetic words to paper. And I seem to have this thing for writing about clams and pearls. Weird right?http://meaganweybright.blogspot.com/2012/04/tales-from-sea.html

                Another that I thought I did pretty decent with was probably when I wrote my ideas on question five from  “A Good Man Is Hard To Find”.  I felt like I really got into that one. I had several ideas and I actually had quite a few examples from the pages that I had read right down to whether or not it was at the bottom, middle, or top of the page. All of the concepts O’Connor was trying to convey in the story I felt like I was picking up as the reader. Which felt nice to understand on a different level.http://meaganweybright.blogspot.com/2012/04/5.html

                I loved the “Dream Songs”, Berryman was so interesting. With his whole life being based upon trying to deal with the deaths in his life. Like his father’s suicide and his friend dying of cancer.  Through his writing he spoke about different pieces of himself. But then when he committed suicide himself it really blew my mind. Then when my contextual presentation was based upon Confessional poetry I was able to bring Berryman into my presentation. Ah! Berryman! http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=662916276407537088#editor/target=post;postID=8800727103266436433

Overall I would say that my performance in this class was a bit more than average. I will admit that there were nights that I didn’t read the entire text, or that I made very educated guesses on the quizzes. Although, overall I would have to say I really was more active in class conversations and way more willing to voice my opinion. Normally I get annoyed with the students that talk way too much and control the entire class discussion so I rarely speak. But I did manage to get my thoughts out there and I think some of them may have been pretty insightful. Somehow I think that all English majors think that they have some great insight into whatever reading they are discussing, even though it may be very average and probably not as amazing as they see it in their heads. Sad but so very true, and I do not think I am above that statement hahaha! 

Weaknesses as a writer? I do this thing where I will say something like “She seems almost excited by the idea by his advances…” (Like I said in my Midterm essay) But I never gave anything to back up why I thought that. It’s little things like that make me miss out on some major points. I could really beef up my essays by rechecking my silly mistakes. Ah! 

I really don’t like the idea of giving myself a grade based upon what I think. I feel like that’s kind of selfish? Greedy? Whatever the right word might be. I feel that I deserve a grade based upon the requirements of the class. Obviously everyone is going to give some long explanation about why they deserve to have a passing grade. Just makes me uncomfortable. Hah! Silly I know right?

Who?

I feel like Oedipa is very chameleon like. I can’t say for sure quite yet if she does everything on purpose. I feel almost as if subconsciously she does things Oedipa’s  body takes over for her in times of need. Especially when she meets with the Igor baby actor and she feels self conscious upon her first meet up with him and then as the evening progresses she seems to feel more confident and sexier as a woman.

I really like how she uses her abilities as a woman, because I think all women have this “power”, about us that can really be altering. I am not sure if that is even the right word for what I am trying to say. Who knows exactly what it is? Is it even a power?

I would really like to watch her change as a person and as a woman further along in the story as well as see if she finally chooses a single personality that can make her the most happy in her skin.

Good luck Oedipa!

49

First off I have to say that I loved the opening with the Tupperware party, I just like it is so common. Something people would actually be doing haha.

Oedipa’s character is really very interesting, especially with her nightmares causing her to have trouble sleeping. And going to see a therapist who prescribes her tranquilizers to sleep yet she refuses to take them. But what is even more interesting is that upon an episode she calls him in the middle of the night and then when the nightmare is brought up Mr. Hilarious asks her not to describe it. Then goes on about some new pill being made and wanting he to be apart if it when she is already unwilling to take what she is given.

Also when she is at the lot and faced with that younger boy who wanted to be a musician thinking that all she wanted from him was…ya know. And she grabbed the TV antennas as a way to defend herself from him. Then upon him realizing that wasn’t what she wanted he backed off which helped her to calm down. Oedipa gives off this vibe that she has to be ready at any moment to take down anyone who might try to hurt her.

Then later on when she meets Metzger she feels that he is too gorgeous to be an actual man, that he must be an actor. Oedipa’s character is extremely paranoid, and very frantic. While sharing a glass of wine with Metzger he tells her that as a child he was an actor and randomly one of his pieces of work pops up and they watch it together and Metzger even sings along. For a moment Oedipa thinks that Metzger was in cahoots with the guy at the cable company putting this is show on specifically for that moment.

Although as they drink more Oedipa becomes less, well her current self, and becomes more relaxed with Metzger. Obviously drinking does her some good.

I just really like Oedipa’s character and all of the changes in emotion that we witness as they story goes on and how she reacts to situations based on her circumstances and what we know about her as a character.

Discussion Blog

How did I prepare for this assignment compared to others?

Well let me tell you there was a little less procrastination, although not too much.

I was mostly thinking about trying to look studious, like I drink black coffee (ew) and get lost deep in thought, and use quotes from the great writers in hopes of sounding interesting.

Well, I hate to break it to everyone but black coffee is disgusting. The other two still apply to me…totally kidding.

How did I do this in all seriousness? Well, I read the story several times. Picked out the questions that I actually wanted to answer, picked ones that I thought my “mind” could best represent. Does that make any sense? Then I busted out my yellow post-it notes. I wrote down which question that sticky note section answered, as well as page numbers and small notes in case I needed a jump start into the conversation. Although when I was actually involved in the discussion I found myself spitting out all of my notes, honestly I don’t even know if I was actually talking. I was pretty much spitting out facts.

At one point I did look up other’s views on what the Misfit said about “she would have been a good woman if there had been someone there to shoot her everyday of her life”? (Probably not word for word) although, I am sure we all got the point.

I was reading some people’s views on that topic and I was dying. Some of the answers were so pathetic. What was even worse was reading the comments from the self-deemed intellectuals, and knowing that what they were saying was SO wrong that I was almost sure they had never read the material! One person said this “The misfit was sad with himself for shooting her because she was such a good woman and he wasn’t.” Oh my gosh!

Three things I learned?

1. I am way better at English then I am at Pre calculus

2. That it is okay to talk, someone will tell you to shut up when you have said enough, or nothing relevant.

3. Also those others in my discussion group had some excellent points and I wished I had thought of some of the things that they had said.

Altogether I found the exercise to be a success and I liked hearing everyone’s opinions. It really opened my mind up to so many different things that I hadn’t thought about. I also loved the idea of be O’Connor delving into so many topics just within a short story. Especially concerning the religion. Great use of ideas.

5

Decided to talk about Question 5 from our discussion for the blog for tonight:

 In the very beginning of the story when she reads aloud from the Journal about the Misfit “ I wouldn’t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it. I couldn’t answer to my conscience if I did (1304)

When the family stops for lunch at Red Sammy’s BBQ, we get a small insight into what a good man is when we hear Sammy talk about the following “Two fellers come in here last week driving a chrysler. It was a old beat up car but it was a good one and these boys looked alright to me. Said they worked at the mill you know I let them fellers charge the gas they bought? Now why did I do that?” (1307) Talking about how the times have changed and how you can’t trust a soul anymore.

Later on in this conversation it switches to the wife of Sammy, “Did you hear about the Misfit, that escaped?” said the grandmother. “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he didn’t attract this place right here. Two cents… bottom of page (1307)

(1309) bottom perhaps a car will come along. (1310) Grandmother is the one who waves down the car, and is the one who makes it come to their “rescue”. Which I find interesting especially since we all  know that this is the Misfit, and it is rather funny that she is the one who made them go on this trip and then in the end she was the one who brought them right to the feet of the killer. Which was said on page (1304)

(1311) Grandma telling the Misfit that he shouldn’t call himself that because she “knows” He is really a good man at heart. Interesting how those changes from her initial thoughts about him when she has no reason to fear for her life, but when she does suddenly everything she has been saying is irrelevant. So good man, not?
And further on in the reading as she tries to convince Misfit that he is a good man to spare the lives of her family and herself. So if she has to do that what makes a good man? Certainly makes the title far more interesting. Of course it’s hard to find if you are trying to pull it from a man that originally didn’t fit your stereotype.
Obviously when you hear the gun shots and the screams as her family dies, then finally when she is shot and dies the misfit says “She would have been a good woman if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.”  “it’s no real pleasure in life.”-Misfit.

We spent all of this time talking about what a good man is, what is a good woman?

Tales From The Sea

I am terrible when it comes to poetry

 I have a lot of Math homework, and attempting a poem sounded quicker than writing an analysis.

Although, I will probably be proven wrong and I will wish that I had done the analysis. I am hoping for the best.

Tales From The Sea

You are such a deceptive yet seasoned clam
Holding pearls prisoner, created from the sand
Using it as bait to lure in a curious girl, which I am

Although so unaware of the plans I conspire
You feel powerful beneath the ocean floor
Soon it will be me who defeats your empire

“Hello, Hello”, you call, “Let me show you something grand
Dutifully I approach to see what you have to show
Gently you place a shiny pearl into my salty wet hand

“Isn’t it pretty?” spoke the clam, “My creation of the sand?”
Eyes wide, full of utter glee, I hold the crest of the sea
“Silly clam… I will never return what I hold in my hand”

“Wait!” screeches the clam “Please return the ocean’s crest!”
The clam meant to guard it from curious girls like myself
The deceptive clam failed his own ridiculous test

The Clam not as deceptive as he thought he might be
The clam meant to guard it from curious girls
Too bad he lost the crest of the almighty sea
Failed the whole sea to a curious girl like me

I knew a woman

I knew a woman.

Upon my first read all I could think about was Disney princesses.
Then the next thought that came into my mind was from the movie Enchanted.

Giselle: Oh it’s you!

Prince: Yes, it is me. And you are?

Giselle: Giselle

Prince: Oh, Giselle! We shall be married in the morning!

(All of this happening just seconds after meeting.)

The reason my mind wandered to these ideas? Although I am sure the idea of the poem was not based upon my Disney theme. While the woman was being described made her sound very elegant, and when you read the very first line:

“I knew a woman, lovely in her bones,

When small birds sighed, she would sigh back at them;” (1084)

This reminded me of Snow White had this “special” bond with the animals and she could sing a little tune and they would all come crawling out of nooks and crannies to help her clean a very messy house.

Following my outrageous ideas, I began to think of it as a personal idea of a woman. And her movements, the way they were described reminded me of dancing. Like her body in every action that she conducted was in tune with a personal rhythm.

The line “But who can count eternity in days?

These old bones live to learn her wanton ways:

(I measure time by how a body sways).” (1085)

Is this perhaps talking about that one’s age doesn’t really exist as long as the body is lively and full of life?

Am I totally missing the point? Probably.

“She was the sickle; I ,poor ,I, the rake,

Coming behind her for her pretty sake

(But what prodigious mowing we did make).” (1084)

Is the speaker of this poem possibly comparing itself to a rake? Is the rake even an actual rake in this poem?