Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
February 26, 2008
Journal #29 Sarah Orne Jewett
Quote:
"Afraid of folks,'they said! I guess she won't be troubled no great with 'em up to the old place"(Jewett 523).
Summary:
Mrs. Tilley is commenting on the personality trait that Sylvia exhibits. Sylvia is a lonely little girl that is very shy around people.
Response:
Mrs Tilley mentions a character trait that is essential to knowing Sylvia on a deep level. Sylvia is a young girl, pre-teens, that is very afraid of people. She has grown up most of her life in a factory town during that industrial revolution. She is a girl that has no friends and is secluded form the rest of society. All of this helps mold Sylvia into the animal loving, Nature enthusiast that she exhibits later in the short story. This character trait of hers is important to understanding Sylvia because it lays down the foundation for the crush that she later has on the Heron hunter. Sylvia is isolated from all types of people because of where she grows up in. In "life in the iron Mills", by Rebecca Harding Davis the scene of the city is set up as a very dismal one. The pollution casts a black and gloomy shadow over the city that prevents any sun from shining on the workers. In this type of town where all the people work 24/7 there is no time allotted for children to grow and experience friendships. I believe that this is the very same type of environment that Sylvia grows up in. This is what causes her to be deathly afraid of people. She has no interaction with anyone so she does not know how to open herself up to other people. Sylvia says,"...this was a beautiful place to live in, and she never wished to go home". When she is taken away form the factory city she is on the path to discovering who she really is. The environment that she grew up in serves as a catalyst for her love of the environment later in the story. As we read on, Sylvia transforms from the wilted and dying Geranium, to one that is in full blossom and lively.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
What a relief
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
February 22, 2008
Journal #28 Stephen Crane
Quote:
"...drowning must really be a comfortable arrangement, a cessation of hostilities accompanied by a large degree of relief, and he was glad for it, for the main thing in his mind for some moments had been horror of the temporary agony. He did not wish to be hurt"(Crane 1015).
Summary:
Death by drowning is being described as a huge relief, after enduring the rowing and fighting against the waves to get land.
Response:
After our discussion, in class, on Wednesday Scott ended the lecture with the final Crane stage being about love, courage, trust and community. I do not completely agree with this interpretation but I can see how Scott arrived to it. Scott along with another student interpreted the story about the courage the crew showed by sticking together in the face of death. I however see the ending different. I get more the impression that the crew,"could then be interpreters", because they have just been enlightened to the awesome strength of their environment. In other words they became aware that they have no say in their world. They are at the mercy of nature and the environment. They become interpreters in the sense that they respect their environment and are very aware of its tremendous power. They now posses the ability to read mother nature and interpret what she is trying to say. They are no longer the egotistical humans they once were, they know that everything is not about them. They to will feel the wrath of their environment regardless of how good or bad they are.
The environment has a power that few realize. Take for example hurricane Katrina. No one would ever have thought that a hurricane would reach inland with that much force. The devastation from this hurricane is still being felt and seen three years later. It's our environment keeping us in check and sending us a warning. It's telling us that we need to treat our environment better. It also serves as a message that we are not in control of our fates. At any will we can be wiped off the planet. The environment controls our fate not us.
English 48B
February 22, 2008
Journal #28 Stephen Crane
Quote:
"...drowning must really be a comfortable arrangement, a cessation of hostilities accompanied by a large degree of relief, and he was glad for it, for the main thing in his mind for some moments had been horror of the temporary agony. He did not wish to be hurt"(Crane 1015).
Summary:
Death by drowning is being described as a huge relief, after enduring the rowing and fighting against the waves to get land.
Response:
After our discussion, in class, on Wednesday Scott ended the lecture with the final Crane stage being about love, courage, trust and community. I do not completely agree with this interpretation but I can see how Scott arrived to it. Scott along with another student interpreted the story about the courage the crew showed by sticking together in the face of death. I however see the ending different. I get more the impression that the crew,"could then be interpreters", because they have just been enlightened to the awesome strength of their environment. In other words they became aware that they have no say in their world. They are at the mercy of nature and the environment. They become interpreters in the sense that they respect their environment and are very aware of its tremendous power. They now posses the ability to read mother nature and interpret what she is trying to say. They are no longer the egotistical humans they once were, they know that everything is not about them. They to will feel the wrath of their environment regardless of how good or bad they are.
The environment has a power that few realize. Take for example hurricane Katrina. No one would ever have thought that a hurricane would reach inland with that much force. The devastation from this hurricane is still being felt and seen three years later. It's our environment keeping us in check and sending us a warning. It's telling us that we need to treat our environment better. It also serves as a message that we are not in control of our fates. At any will we can be wiped off the planet. The environment controls our fate not us.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Temple but no bricks
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
February 21, 2008
Journal #27 Stephen Crane
Quote:
"...he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no bricks and no temples"(Crane 1011).
Summary:
This is another stage in Crane's stage's. This is the stage where one wants to curse the gods but there is nothing to curse.
Response:
Naturalism is how the environment shapes a humans actions and reactions and in the case of the doomed ship crew the environment serves exactly this purpose. After they have prayed for salvation they find themselves staring death in the face. They complain about how unjust it is for them to have rowed so long and be within eyesight of land only not be able to make it to land. These men think they are better then the sea. The sea is what holds the power over the lives of these men. While trying to row their way to land they are thrown all over the place by the strong currents of the sea. This is when the men get upset, they want to vent their anger on the sea for fighting against their progress. The only problem is what are they supposed to do if the very thing keeping them from the land has no physical form. They want to get mad at something that has no physical shape. I chose this quote because of the deep philosophical roots that these problem conjures up. How do you hurt something that has no feeling? This reminds me of any time I am having trouble fixing my car and things are not going as I please. I then become frustrated and hit whatever part of my car I am working on. What if an inatimite object could feel pain? Would I hit the part of my car knowing that it felt pain? The Crane stages prove to be very complex when they are broken down and looked at individually.
English 48B
February 21, 2008
Journal #27 Stephen Crane
Quote:
"...he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no bricks and no temples"(Crane 1011).
Summary:
This is another stage in Crane's stage's. This is the stage where one wants to curse the gods but there is nothing to curse.
Response:
Naturalism is how the environment shapes a humans actions and reactions and in the case of the doomed ship crew the environment serves exactly this purpose. After they have prayed for salvation they find themselves staring death in the face. They complain about how unjust it is for them to have rowed so long and be within eyesight of land only not be able to make it to land. These men think they are better then the sea. The sea is what holds the power over the lives of these men. While trying to row their way to land they are thrown all over the place by the strong currents of the sea. This is when the men get upset, they want to vent their anger on the sea for fighting against their progress. The only problem is what are they supposed to do if the very thing keeping them from the land has no physical form. They want to get mad at something that has no physical shape. I chose this quote because of the deep philosophical roots that these problem conjures up. How do you hurt something that has no feeling? This reminds me of any time I am having trouble fixing my car and things are not going as I please. I then become frustrated and hit whatever part of my car I am working on. What if an inatimite object could feel pain? Would I hit the part of my car knowing that it felt pain? The Crane stages prove to be very complex when they are broken down and looked at individually.
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
February 21, 2008
Journal #26 Stephen Crane
Quote:
"Often they came very close and stared at the men with black bead-like eyes. At these times they were uncanny and sinister in their unblinking scrutiny, and the men hooted angrily at them, telling them to be gone"( Crane 1002).
Summary:
The seagulls are trying to tell the crew of the doomed ship that they should never have sailed in these conditions. Mother nature seems like she is getting the last laugh. These men decide to set sail into the impending weather and they expect to come back without a scratch. I love how Crane has the Seagulls glaring at the men. It's like the seagulls are saying, " Just what do you idiots think you are doing?" What do the men do? They yell at the seagulls to leave them alone. It is humans at their dumbest;There's a huge storm, oh well, we'll survive. This really makes you take a step back and wonder just how clever are we as a species.
Aside form the fact that these men have decided to continue sail in the terrible weather the seagulls have a omniscient quality to them. With their black sinister eyes they are telling the crew that they will perish for thinking they can overcome Mother Nature. It's as if the hand of the mighty sea god has slapped them in the face and saying, "Just what do you think you are doing"? "Go back to land where you belong". Of course the crew just gets mad at the birds because they think they are being mocked. Little does the crew know that the environment will teach them a lesson.
English 48B
February 21, 2008
Journal #26 Stephen Crane
Quote:
"Often they came very close and stared at the men with black bead-like eyes. At these times they were uncanny and sinister in their unblinking scrutiny, and the men hooted angrily at them, telling them to be gone"( Crane 1002).
Summary:
The seagulls are trying to tell the crew of the doomed ship that they should never have sailed in these conditions. Mother nature seems like she is getting the last laugh. These men decide to set sail into the impending weather and they expect to come back without a scratch. I love how Crane has the Seagulls glaring at the men. It's like the seagulls are saying, " Just what do you idiots think you are doing?" What do the men do? They yell at the seagulls to leave them alone. It is humans at their dumbest;There's a huge storm, oh well, we'll survive. This really makes you take a step back and wonder just how clever are we as a species.
Aside form the fact that these men have decided to continue sail in the terrible weather the seagulls have a omniscient quality to them. With their black sinister eyes they are telling the crew that they will perish for thinking they can overcome Mother Nature. It's as if the hand of the mighty sea god has slapped them in the face and saying, "Just what do you think you are doing"? "Go back to land where you belong". Of course the crew just gets mad at the birds because they think they are being mocked. Little does the crew know that the environment will teach them a lesson.
The Crane Stages
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
February 21, 2008
Journal #25 Stephen Crane
Quote:
"These waves were most wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall, and each froth-top was a problem n small oat navigation"(Crane 1000).
Summary:
The narrator is describing the size and power of the storm and the waves that the Captain and the crew is confronted with.
Response:
As we discussed in class on Wednesday this story evolves into separate stages. The above quote is an example of the early stages of the "Crane Stages". As the captain and his crew face the giant storm they all quickly realize that they are in the midst of a life and death survival situation. Early in the "Crane stages" is the stage where an individual curses the gods. Why is this happening to me? This question is posed as one confronts the survival situation they are in. It is crass and egotistic for a human to think that nothing bad should happen to them. What we fail to realize as humans, on this planet, is that we are not in control; Mother nature is. We cannot control the weather,earthquakes, tsunamis, nor the winds. So just how realistic is if for us to think that nothing bad happens to the good person. Such is the case for the crew on the ship. They all initially feel as if this should not be happening to them. This should be happening to another crew. Their justify this by asking why this would happen to a crew that has traveled so far on the sea and are within eyesight of land. As Scott said, " How hideous to die within sight of land". Is this not the first reaction that we would all jump to. For example if you have your car broken into or you use your wallet and find out that someone is using your credit card your first reaction is, Why me? Humans must think that nothing will bad will ever happen to us and that we are in control of our environment. What we do not realize is that bad things will happen to good people and we are not on control of our environment. as the story progresses we will see the rest of the stages that humans go through in a life and death situation.
English 48B
February 21, 2008
Journal #25 Stephen Crane
Quote:
"These waves were most wrongfully and barbarously abrupt and tall, and each froth-top was a problem n small oat navigation"(Crane 1000).
Summary:
The narrator is describing the size and power of the storm and the waves that the Captain and the crew is confronted with.
Response:
As we discussed in class on Wednesday this story evolves into separate stages. The above quote is an example of the early stages of the "Crane Stages". As the captain and his crew face the giant storm they all quickly realize that they are in the midst of a life and death survival situation. Early in the "Crane stages" is the stage where an individual curses the gods. Why is this happening to me? This question is posed as one confronts the survival situation they are in. It is crass and egotistic for a human to think that nothing bad should happen to them. What we fail to realize as humans, on this planet, is that we are not in control; Mother nature is. We cannot control the weather,earthquakes, tsunamis, nor the winds. So just how realistic is if for us to think that nothing bad happens to the good person. Such is the case for the crew on the ship. They all initially feel as if this should not be happening to them. This should be happening to another crew. Their justify this by asking why this would happen to a crew that has traveled so far on the sea and are within eyesight of land. As Scott said, " How hideous to die within sight of land". Is this not the first reaction that we would all jump to. For example if you have your car broken into or you use your wallet and find out that someone is using your credit card your first reaction is, Why me? Humans must think that nothing will bad will ever happen to us and that we are in control of our environment. What we do not realize is that bad things will happen to good people and we are not on control of our environment. as the story progresses we will see the rest of the stages that humans go through in a life and death situation.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Booker T. and W.E.B.
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
February 14, 2008
Journal #24 Question #2(Midterm)
Quote:
"Speak soft, and try your little plan,
But as for me, i'll be a man"(Randall 1969).
Summary:
The above quote explains Du Bois' views on civil politics.
Response:
Who is the braver man? A good question to pose with and easy answer(in my opinion). Du Bois was the braver man. He was the braver man because he spoke out against racial equality. He did not accept his place in society. He challenged it. I love the last stanza in the poem that has Du Bois disagreeing with Booker T. This is exactly what he was about. Many kudos and praise to the man who had a voice and fought for equal rights. He did not want his race to feel inferior. He wanted equality. Little did he know that he was laying the brick work for generations of black leaders. I completely agree with Du Bois. He has the best approach towards making the races equal. If you are dormant and quiet, as Booker T. suggests, than everybody will step all over you. Why would you accept that you are an inferior race? This makes no sense to me. I really feel that Du Bois was on the right track of civil equality by speaking out against injustice. With all this said you have to take a look at why Du Bois felt this way. Unlike Booker T. he was not born into slavery rather he was educated and middle class. He had many more opportunities than Booker T. did. This is how he got his big voice. He was not afraid of controversy and backlash because it was not in his character. Two drastically different man with two drastically different points of view. It makes you wonder how different America would be if these two men were alive today preaching their points of view.
English 48B
February 14, 2008
Journal #24 Question #2(Midterm)
Quote:
"Speak soft, and try your little plan,
But as for me, i'll be a man"(Randall 1969).
Summary:
The above quote explains Du Bois' views on civil politics.
Response:
Who is the braver man? A good question to pose with and easy answer(in my opinion). Du Bois was the braver man. He was the braver man because he spoke out against racial equality. He did not accept his place in society. He challenged it. I love the last stanza in the poem that has Du Bois disagreeing with Booker T. This is exactly what he was about. Many kudos and praise to the man who had a voice and fought for equal rights. He did not want his race to feel inferior. He wanted equality. Little did he know that he was laying the brick work for generations of black leaders. I completely agree with Du Bois. He has the best approach towards making the races equal. If you are dormant and quiet, as Booker T. suggests, than everybody will step all over you. Why would you accept that you are an inferior race? This makes no sense to me. I really feel that Du Bois was on the right track of civil equality by speaking out against injustice. With all this said you have to take a look at why Du Bois felt this way. Unlike Booker T. he was not born into slavery rather he was educated and middle class. He had many more opportunities than Booker T. did. This is how he got his big voice. He was not afraid of controversy and backlash because it was not in his character. Two drastically different man with two drastically different points of view. It makes you wonder how different America would be if these two men were alive today preaching their points of view.
Booker T. and W.E.B.
Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
February 14, 2008
Journal #23 Question #2(Midterm)
Quote:
"Just keep your mouths shut, do not grouse,
But work, and save, and buy a house"(Randall 1969).
Summary:
The poet Dudley Randall is comparing and contrasting the two drastically different political styles of Booker T. and W.E.B.
Response:
First I want to comment on how well Randall breaks down the main differences between the two black rights activists. We all know that Booker T. was in favor of accepting the black persons role in society and educating oneself. Whereas Du Bois was in favor of speaking out against social injustices and actively engaging people about these injustices. If you did not know anything about these two men all you would have to do is read this poem and you would instantly know the two positions that these black men were on. Booker T. was a more quiet man who did not like conflict. He favored improving oneself by becoming educated in the industrial sector. Booker T. saw what the black slaves were good at and told them to embrace it. This he argued was for the better because it was self improvement. This idea stems from the fact that Booker T. was born into slavery. Being a slave Booker T. was not granted many opportunities but when they presented themselves he took complete and full advantage of them. In the above quote he says to mind your own business, work and buy a house. What a timid way to view the struggle of race relations. I have argued before that I do not agree with Booker T's politics but understand where he is coming from. Booker T was just much to accepting of his role in society. This really bothers me. What if Martin Luther King Jr had accepted that blacks were inferior? Would they have the same civil rights they do now? Possibly, but they surly would have taken much longer to achieve.
English 48B
February 14, 2008
Journal #23 Question #2(Midterm)
Quote:
"Just keep your mouths shut, do not grouse,
But work, and save, and buy a house"(Randall 1969).
Summary:
The poet Dudley Randall is comparing and contrasting the two drastically different political styles of Booker T. and W.E.B.
Response:
First I want to comment on how well Randall breaks down the main differences between the two black rights activists. We all know that Booker T. was in favor of accepting the black persons role in society and educating oneself. Whereas Du Bois was in favor of speaking out against social injustices and actively engaging people about these injustices. If you did not know anything about these two men all you would have to do is read this poem and you would instantly know the two positions that these black men were on. Booker T. was a more quiet man who did not like conflict. He favored improving oneself by becoming educated in the industrial sector. Booker T. saw what the black slaves were good at and told them to embrace it. This he argued was for the better because it was self improvement. This idea stems from the fact that Booker T. was born into slavery. Being a slave Booker T. was not granted many opportunities but when they presented themselves he took complete and full advantage of them. In the above quote he says to mind your own business, work and buy a house. What a timid way to view the struggle of race relations. I have argued before that I do not agree with Booker T's politics but understand where he is coming from. Booker T was just much to accepting of his role in society. This really bothers me. What if Martin Luther King Jr had accepted that blacks were inferior? Would they have the same civil rights they do now? Possibly, but they surly would have taken much longer to achieve.
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