Nathaniel Hawthorne: "Young Goodman Brown" p. 67
1. "What if a wretched old woman do choose to go to the devil when I thought she was going to heaven: is that any reason why I should quit my dear Faith and go after her?"
The old woman is a witch and chooses hell over heaven. She chooses a menacing and evil life, though she taught Goodman Brown his catechism. Young Goodman Brown thinks if he should leave his wife, Faith, and a life of doing good to follow the old woman and take a different path. This seems plausible because of the mysterious journey that Goodman is on, accompanied by the devil.
Nathaniel Hawthorne: "Young Goodman Brown" p. 71
2. "But he had no power to retreat one step, nor to resist, even in thought, when the minister and good old Deacon Gookin seized his arms and led him to the blazing rock."
This quote is powerful and mysterious in that Goodman Brown is being forced to this strange ritual in the middle of the woods. Strangely enough, the townspeople of Salem village, where the Salem witch trials took place, are there. All of the people who were involved in his religious life are there at the ritual. Now, he is to see what will become of it and the seemingly supernatural aura about it.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Quote Response 9/23
Henry David Thoreau: "The Heart of Thoreau's Journals" p. 32
1. "This shall be the test of innocence- if I can hear a taunt, and look out on this friendly moon, pacing the heavens in queen-like majesty, with the accustomed yearning."
Thoreau paints a picture in this journal entry. He is standing beneath the moon in a picturesque atmosphere in the winter months. He can see the moon "pacing" by the slight breeze pushing the illuminated clouds by it. By "taunt," I believe Thoreau means to hear an unwelcome sound that would ruin the atmosphere. By "innocence," I think that Thoreau means the true isolated and peacefulness of his location, secluded from society and the hustle-and-bustle of life. If his surroundings really are suitable for his experiment, right now, in this moment in time, nothing should disturb the serenity.
Henry David Thoreau: "The Heart of Thoreau's Journals" p. 36
2. "I will tell fortune that I play no game with her, and she may reach me in my Asia of indolence and serenity if she can."
By this, Thoreau means that one must not barter with fate and assume that one will get lucky once in a while. In Thoreau's eyes, hard work is key. Once you do not show interest in trying fortune, laziness will not bring you down. He continues to say, "For an impenetrable shield, stand inside yourself." This quote of Thoreau's only heightens your assumption that he feels that hard work is key. Thoreau said this on June 27th, during the summer months. It could be predicted that he was growing and maintaining his own crops by then. I worked on a farm for a summer. If anything, it requires constant hard work.
1. "This shall be the test of innocence- if I can hear a taunt, and look out on this friendly moon, pacing the heavens in queen-like majesty, with the accustomed yearning."
Thoreau paints a picture in this journal entry. He is standing beneath the moon in a picturesque atmosphere in the winter months. He can see the moon "pacing" by the slight breeze pushing the illuminated clouds by it. By "taunt," I believe Thoreau means to hear an unwelcome sound that would ruin the atmosphere. By "innocence," I think that Thoreau means the true isolated and peacefulness of his location, secluded from society and the hustle-and-bustle of life. If his surroundings really are suitable for his experiment, right now, in this moment in time, nothing should disturb the serenity.
Henry David Thoreau: "The Heart of Thoreau's Journals" p. 36
2. "I will tell fortune that I play no game with her, and she may reach me in my Asia of indolence and serenity if she can."
By this, Thoreau means that one must not barter with fate and assume that one will get lucky once in a while. In Thoreau's eyes, hard work is key. Once you do not show interest in trying fortune, laziness will not bring you down. He continues to say, "For an impenetrable shield, stand inside yourself." This quote of Thoreau's only heightens your assumption that he feels that hard work is key. Thoreau said this on June 27th, during the summer months. It could be predicted that he was growing and maintaining his own crops by then. I worked on a farm for a summer. If anything, it requires constant hard work.
Friday, September 21, 2007
paper choice
Paper choice 2:
A comparison between the self-reliance opinions and views of Thoreau and Emerson.
A comparison between the self-reliance opinions and views of Thoreau and Emerson.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Quote Response 9/19
Henry David Thoreau: "Where I Lived and What I Lived For" p. 25
1. "...but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts."
Thoreau is showing the reader that your own good actions can improve your day and change its outcome for the better. He feels that making better of your own day is much greater than beautifying a canvas with a paint brush. If I do not procrastinate in school and I do well on my quizzes and tests because I study, I am relieving myself of extra stress, which would have been hanging over me if I am always allowing the procrastination. This totally changes the outcome of one's day and you are able to "... carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look..."
Henry David Thoreau: Where I Lived and What I Lived For" p. 24
2. "The morning, which is the most memorable season of the day, is the awakening hour. Then there is least somnolence in us; and for an hour, at least, some part of us awakes which slumbers all the rest of the day and night."
In this quote, Thoreau expresses how he feels about the importance of the morning. In a man, there is less sleepiness in the morning. Every part of one's body is awake and functioning. This part grows less active as the sun rises in the sky, then it "slumbers all the rest of the day and night." The morning is the most important part of the day in my opinion. It is the start of a new day and at this time you can alter and sculpt the outcome of your day. You can change its shape, whereas towards the evening, your day has already formed a trend, which should continue to be followed.
1. "...but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts."
Thoreau is showing the reader that your own good actions can improve your day and change its outcome for the better. He feels that making better of your own day is much greater than beautifying a canvas with a paint brush. If I do not procrastinate in school and I do well on my quizzes and tests because I study, I am relieving myself of extra stress, which would have been hanging over me if I am always allowing the procrastination. This totally changes the outcome of one's day and you are able to "... carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we look..."
Henry David Thoreau: Where I Lived and What I Lived For" p. 24
2. "The morning, which is the most memorable season of the day, is the awakening hour. Then there is least somnolence in us; and for an hour, at least, some part of us awakes which slumbers all the rest of the day and night."
In this quote, Thoreau expresses how he feels about the importance of the morning. In a man, there is less sleepiness in the morning. Every part of one's body is awake and functioning. This part grows less active as the sun rises in the sky, then it "slumbers all the rest of the day and night." The morning is the most important part of the day in my opinion. It is the start of a new day and at this time you can alter and sculpt the outcome of your day. You can change its shape, whereas towards the evening, your day has already formed a trend, which should continue to be followed.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
homework 9/17: 4 Quotes/explanations
---From "Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "...few adult persons see nature." This is a true statement. Emerson is trying to explain that perhaps not all people stop to take the time to enjoy all that is around them. Often times I feel that I do not get to really see and feel the nature around me because of a busy schedule or just plain inattentiveness.
---From "Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "In the woods, is perpetual youth." Grief, calamity, and stress, for example, age us. If one were to live in the forest, he would find none of that. There is only yourself and the woodland creatures around you. Such activities in the woods such as the scuttling of chipmunks, for instance, could never bother a man, thus he stays young and happy forever, whereas the loudness of urban life could fill someone with negative feelings.
---From "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "'What have I to do with the sacredness of traditions, if I live wholly from within?'"
Here, Emerson is explaining that you do not have to follow the traditions of others, so long as your life is whole and has meaning and you have found yourself. The traditions of others have nothing to do with you, so long as you are self-reliant and you have your own free spirit and your own way of thinking.
---From "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "...truth is handsomer than the affection of love. Your goodness must have some edge to it, -else it is none." You can be a seemingly good person by always saying "hello" and "thank you," but to be truly good ("goodness with some edge to it") you must have feelings behind everything you do. All actions of yours should be truthful and meaningful.
---From "Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "In the woods, is perpetual youth." Grief, calamity, and stress, for example, age us. If one were to live in the forest, he would find none of that. There is only yourself and the woodland creatures around you. Such activities in the woods such as the scuttling of chipmunks, for instance, could never bother a man, thus he stays young and happy forever, whereas the loudness of urban life could fill someone with negative feelings.
---From "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "'What have I to do with the sacredness of traditions, if I live wholly from within?'"
Here, Emerson is explaining that you do not have to follow the traditions of others, so long as your life is whole and has meaning and you have found yourself. The traditions of others have nothing to do with you, so long as you are self-reliant and you have your own free spirit and your own way of thinking.
---From "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "...truth is handsomer than the affection of love. Your goodness must have some edge to it, -else it is none." You can be a seemingly good person by always saying "hello" and "thank you," but to be truly good ("goodness with some edge to it") you must have feelings behind everything you do. All actions of yours should be truthful and meaningful.
Monday, September 10, 2007
What do you want to get out of this course this year?
This year in American Literature, I want to be able to learn more about American history through literature. Also, I want to learn more about certain American writers and poets. It would also be nice if I could figure out this whole blog thing.
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