1/13
In Frankenstein, the first four letters and the preface I read weren't mainly about the story - it covered the intention of the writing and background of the narrator. The book starts with an exploration of the narrator and covers a lot of topics through his letters: loneliness, risks taken by discovery of new knowledge, and etc. It seems like the letters are foreshadowing what's coming up in the future of this book.
1/11
Jason, being the epicurean he is, only pursues the highest, most exotic tastes; he never goes to fast-food restaurants for his meals.
1/8
1. Starting a gasoline-fueled lawn mower takes three simple steps: opening the choke, pulling the starter cord, and closing the choke once the engine is running.
2. As a result of his first riding lesson at the Sage Ranch, Jason learned one thing about horses - when they are hungry, they stop to eat.
12/9
Similarities between Farewell to Arms and The Sun Also Rises
First, I'd like to comment on the writing style. Hemingway's characteristic of writing in simple prose, which really shows in the writings of both novels. Whether its about wandering artists lost in the chutzpah of the post-war, or about lonely soldier fighting in a grim war, Hemingway's short, laconic prose fulfills one uniting purpose - to give a suspenseful and dramatic narration.
Second, there are similar themes in both novels. The overarching theme of 'the sun Also Rises' was the destructiveness of love, which Hemingway portrayed through the lives of Bill, James, Lady Ashley. The latter book also depicts a type of love, a more mournful, truthful kind.
Third, there is a similarity in the protagonists of the two novels. Hemingway is characteristic of creating the image of the 'code hero.' The protagonist that truly dignified. The Hemingway Hero is often described as one who exhibits the principles of honor, courage and endurance. In other words, the Hemingway Hero displays qualities that, in a life of pain and tension, "make a man a man."
Fourth, the 'chaos'. The type of chaos is different in both novels. In 'The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway portrays the chaos of post-war Lost Generation. The artists are lost in the phase of their lives without direction or focus. In Farewell to Arms, he depicts the chaos of the war itself.
Fifth, the masculinity is portrayed as weak in front of women.
ONE MORE, which I found interesting : ALCOHOL
alcohol is mentioned in almost every page of both books; obviously, drinking was a big part of Hemingway's life, and it shows through the pages of his book. I could almost see him chugging down a bottle of vodka as I was reading both books.
12/1
EXERCISE -- Copy and paste this entire exercise into your own page. Write your answers in a different color or font. We will chose two people's in class to go over.
1. Look carefully at the following sentence. Does it work? If so, why? If not, where can the sentence be broken into two or shorter ones that are not overwhelming.
Robert Mondavi's father, Cesare, came from Sassafarento near Ancona, on the Adriatic coast of the Marches -- not a particularly rich or fertile part of Italy even now, nor, except for Verdicchio, much of a wine-growing region.
It was a good deal less so, no doubt, in 1883, when Cesare was born, the son of a large, simple family and possibly the first member of it, I have read somewhere, to be able to sign his name. -- by Cyril Ray "Robert Mondavi of the Napa Valley"
2. Does this sentence work? If so, why? If not, please correct. The typical teenage user of snuff is white, active, athletic, and subject to very heavy peer pressure.
3. Same instructions -- The children gathered around the clown wishing for a balloon, angling for a smile, bowing before the childhood consumerism.
11/5
A dream to travel to the far corners of the world is what fuels Victor on his journey to Russia. There, Walden is faced with privation: death-like cold and intense loneliness. I thought Frankenstein was comparable to the 'Heart of Darkness' in that the protagonist instinctively throws himself into a perilous journey to fulfill his dream. He finds himself in a foreign land: a land of mist and ice. The letter style format of the novel makes the narration very personal. Yet, I fear that this will contribute to the unreliability of his voice.
11/3
1. Which of the following doesn't work? Why.
a. Bill played a musical number by Bach; Joan, Beethoven. *
b. Lou Williams was in for adultery; John Jones for gambling.
c. His mother told him to rent a car; his sister, to pack the suitcases.
2. Write your own original example.
I stopped
3. Find one from something you have read (this may take a couple of weeks).
10/26/09
Parallel Structure:
The business man, at the news of his dismissal, ran out of the room, while screaming at the top of his voice, tearing out his hair, and crying like a baby.
Repetition:
The only reason why I bother to come to school -waking up at 5:30 in the morning to ride the bus- is because the reason to be educated is reason enough.
10/16/09
Jocund - lively, cheerful / joyless
abscond - go and hide away / reveal yourself
10/13/09
Emissary - an agent sent on a mission of a secret nature, as a spy.
Cipher - something of no value or importance.
a person of no influence; nonentity.
The conspirators sent emissaries to check up on the whereabouts of Mr. Kurtz. Marlow is in no way a cipher. He assumes a special status in the station; the brickmaker ingratiates himself with Marlow.
10/7/09
mizzen - a fore-and-aft sail set on a mizzenmast.
veneration - great respect
varnished - coated, to give a glossy appearance to. ex) varnish over the truth
sepulchre - burial tomb
10/6/09
Rapacious - greedy, predatory
Diaphanous - gossamer, shiny and transparent
Book report: The Sun also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
a. identify climax, major conflict, resolution or denoument, what type of plot (see page of literary terms)
The Sun also Rises is about a group of American expatriate artists living debauched, extravagant, and unfulfilling lives in Europe. For the most part, the story progresses smoothly in chronological sequence as readers tail the experiences of Jake Barnes, a journalist living in Paris. The Major conflict in this story is between Jake Barnes and his cruel fate; his inability to fulfill his love for Brett Ashley. The readers experience this feeling of pitiable wistfulness, as Jake’s relationship with the woman is hampered by Jake’s impotency, an outcome of his fighting in the war. This sheds to light an important theme, sex. It is portrayed as a destructive, malicious force that destroys human relationships and leads to the deterioration of profound relationships.
The climax of the story is when Robert Cohn, a retired boxing champion, goes on to beat the living daylights out of Jake, Michael, then Pedro Romero. Cohn’s stubborn love for Lady Ashley provokes him to commit such atrocities.
The resolution follows the falling action; the nights of hectic partying comes to an end and the gang go their separate ways. Jake enjoys a few days alone in San Sebastian then goes to Madrid and reunites with Brett.
b. comment about setting
Reading about the setting was one of the most enjoyable parts about reading this novel. The story moves from Paris in France, to Pamplona in Spain, and concludes at Madrid. Hemingway leads us through this journey: the beautiful translucent streets of night time Paris, the green pastures of the Spanish countryside, the passionate bullfights, avid aficionados and nights of booze in heart of Pamplona. Hemingway’s prose comes alive as he describes these settings in awesome detail and vividness. I felt as if I was there with the gang traveling through parts of Europe during the 1930s.
c. identify one major symbol and one minor.
Bullfighting is a major symbol in this novel. One of the most important and enthralling scenes in the whole novel is the bullfight scene of Pedro Romero: “The bull charged as Romero charged. Romero’s left hand dropped the muleta over the bull’s muzzle to blind him, his let shoulder went forward between the horns as the sword went it, and for just an instant he and the bull were one” (Hemingway 222). Romero maneuvers the bull with deftness unmatched by other bullfighters. This brutal yet graceful display of strength represents the
d. discuss two characters. Label as round or flat, dynamic or static. Are they archetypal or foils?
Brett Ashley is a very important character in the novel. She is the source of the conflicts that happen throughout the story. She has an irresistible appeal, does not believe in deep relationships, lives a wild, extravagant life mingled with sex and booze. These trait stay constant throughout the entire novel; Brett is a prime example of a static character.
In contrast, Jake is a dynamic character
e. Open to the exact middle. What page? Write one paragraph about how this one page relates thematically, symbolically,
or other (just not all plot) to the rest of the book.
I opened to page 122. The scene describes Jake’s excursion with Bill to the Spanish countryhouse, where they lazily enjoy days of fishing, reading and
f. Tell me one thing other that really only someone who has read the book will get.
After reading this book, I became more independent and extravagant. The indiscriminate wasting of money on vanities like booze, sex, food, and more booze is disturbing. But at the same time, I began to mull over how it would be like to actually live extravagant lives as these characters do. Going on luxuriant splurges, drinking your living daylights away and most of all, without having to be pressured by responsibilities of any kind. Living with the flow, blowing with the wind and going wherever your instincts take you. This kind of life for me is unimaginable.
Oh, one more thing Ms. Porter. You know how you said that everything in the novel has a purpose and contributes to the story? I really don’t think this applies to ‘The Sun also Rises.’ Hemingway’s style of narration has no sense of DIRECTION. I sometimes felt lost, overwhelmed by the amount of superfluous detail and narration that really seemed to have no purpose whatsoever. The long, vivid descriptions of the extravagant nights spent drinking booze were really enthralling, but REALISM -- reality is sometimes just reality. In which case, not every thought or move has to do with the larger purpose. However, I propose to you that some of this superfluous detail involves more what Jake is trying to hide that what is on the page. 12/12
9/25/09
Epicurean - hedonic, pleasure seeking
Iniquity - injustice, an evil act
9/23/09
Inculcate - instill, teach by repeated instruction
Castration - remove testicles
Castration anxiety - fear of losing your testicles, translates to power, masculinity
Castration anxiety is inculcated in the minds of male viewers. The sight of female spectacle suggests the threat of castration, and thus "unpleasure" for the male audience. This phenomenon lends to the idea that femininity is somehow lacking and powerless. Hence, the image of a passive, impotent female reinforces the
9/14/09
Endemic - pertaining to a particular area or region
The H1N1 virus is not endemic to one country. It has disseminated to other places around the world and is not confined to one specific region.
I thought the essay on Metamorphosis was very far reaching. It had depth and it was clear that the author knew what he was talking about. He made clear connections with current events, substantiated his points with evidence and made his case pretty well. But aside from that, as I was reading, I began to think that some of Beedle;s thoughts were exaggerated and blown up. Is metamorphosis really a metaphor to the sweeping cultural changes happening in America? Does Gregor's transformation really have anything to do with homosexuality? I am not sure whether Kafka would attest to these points, but those arguments were pretty convincing.
9/10/09
The Boston common, a public area in downtown Boston, is the main setting for the short story 'The Patriot,' which is about a man who argues to such an extent that it becomes a sophism. ( insert vocab word).
9/9/09
Borge Imitation:
Here, I bring my breakfast to a close. All of the rest (save the bacon and the toast), unfortunately, was left sitting on the living room table untouched. Let it suffice for me to recall the succulent juices of that nicely smoked piece of bacon, or the sumptuous flavors of the soft French toast. The Bread, was imported from the Agen, a small village in highlands of Corsica (southwest of Italy and southeast of France), where yellow wheat thrives on the plentiful sun and fertile soil. In my mind, there is still controversy over whether the perfectly cooked bacon or the sweet French toast, was more appetizing. The latter is most likely.
Sophism - A flawed argument superficially correct in its reasoning, usually designed to deceive. An intentional fallacy
Tlon is a sophism
8/31/09
Pinguid - pertaining to fat, greasy or oily
The pinguidity of the Chinese cuisine makes me sick.
Katherine Mansfield's 'The Fly' is a short story about a dignified man grieving for his deceased son. The story takes place in the boss's room with Mr. Woodfield, his good acquaintance. The story makes a sudden shift from the boss mourning over his son who died in the war, to a fly that has fallen in an inkpot, trying desperately to keep itself alive. The boss's transformation from a vulnerable, helpless character to an overbearing remorseless brute is described in the story. I believe Mansfield tries to capture the hopelessness and brutality of world war I, which is portrayed through the small, weak fly. The boss embodies the immorality and devaluation of life that occurs during wartime; he constantly pushes the fly towards the brink of death, eventually bringing the poor creature to its demise. The irony is that the transformation happens in a blink of an eye:
http://penzen-ssn.blogspot.com/ I read the blog post called ‘you only live twice.’ It’s actually a very dreamy blog post; teen musing on the thought ‘what if you could live once more?’ You wouldn't expect it to be appropriate for a college essay. But really, aren’t college essays looking for how you are as a person? What you are thinking and things that you value as an individual? In that sense, this post fits the purpose. She looks back on her life as if she has finished living it, and she is moving on to her next life. This gives her room for self reflection and development of her character.
2) http://the-guitarplayer.com/2009/08/13/john-schofield-acoustic-guitar-youtube/ This is a video blogpost on John Schofield, a renowned contemporary jazz guitarist. Listening to jazz guitar is an enjoyable experience; it is an emotional ride that leaves you in with mixed feelings of melancholy and bliss. I’ve realized something after watching this blog post: music doesn’t get as much ‘corporeal’ as it does with jazz. Schofield’s physical attachment to the music is manifested through his facial expression: the tingling of his lips, the faint fluttering of his eyelids as he maneuvers effortlessly through the notes on his rather ‘plain’ acoustic guitar. There’s nothing flamboyant or lavish about his playing. But the beauty of the music comes from the frank expression of emotions by means of musical notes. This piece is called ‘My Ideal.’ What better way to express this intangible idea than through music? Sometimes words just don’t cut it.
3) http://indianben.blogspot.com/ I read the blog post called ‘general class,’ a personal commentary about a man who finds himself on the most squalid section of a train in India. What makes this writing superb is the author’s expressive voice and descriptiveness. As I am reading, I can picture the man anxiously pushing and pulling his way toward the train through the crowd of strangers who throw him wary, mistrustful looks. I can feel the mixed emotions he must have felt as he found himself unguarded in an alien environment. The author’s frank, candid transmission of his emotions and descriptive illustration is what makes this blog enjoyable.
In Frankenstein, the first four letters and the preface I read weren't mainly about the story - it covered the intention of the writing and background of the narrator. The book starts with an exploration of the narrator and covers a lot of topics through his letters: loneliness, risks taken by discovery of new knowledge, and etc. It seems like the letters are foreshadowing what's coming up in the future of this book.
1/11
Jason, being the epicurean he is, only pursues the highest, most exotic tastes; he never goes to fast-food restaurants for his meals.
1/8
1. Starting a gasoline-fueled lawn mower takes three simple steps: opening the choke, pulling the starter cord, and closing the choke once the engine is running.
2. As a result of his first riding lesson at the Sage Ranch, Jason learned one thing about horses - when they are hungry, they stop to eat.
12/9
Similarities between Farewell to Arms and The Sun Also Rises
First, I'd like to comment on the writing style. Hemingway's characteristic of writing in simple prose, which really shows in the writings of both novels. Whether its about wandering artists lost in the chutzpah of the post-war, or about lonely soldier fighting in a grim war, Hemingway's short, laconic prose fulfills one uniting purpose - to give a suspenseful and dramatic narration.
Second, there are similar themes in both novels. The overarching theme of 'the sun Also Rises' was the destructiveness of love, which Hemingway portrayed through the lives of Bill, James, Lady Ashley. The latter book also depicts a type of love, a more mournful, truthful kind.
Third, there is a similarity in the protagonists of the two novels. Hemingway is characteristic of creating the image of the 'code hero.' The protagonist that truly dignified. The Hemingway Hero is often described as one who exhibits the principles of honor, courage and endurance. In other words, the Hemingway Hero displays qualities that, in a life of pain and tension, "make a man a man."
Fourth, the 'chaos'. The type of chaos is different in both novels. In 'The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway portrays the chaos of post-war Lost Generation. The artists are lost in the phase of their lives without direction or focus. In Farewell to Arms, he depicts the chaos of the war itself.
Fifth, the masculinity is portrayed as weak in front of women.
ONE MORE, which I found interesting : ALCOHOL
alcohol is mentioned in almost every page of both books; obviously, drinking was a big part of Hemingway's life, and it shows through the pages of his book. I could almost see him chugging down a bottle of vodka as I was reading both books.
12/1
EXERCISE -- Copy and paste this entire exercise into your own page. Write your answers in a different color or font. We will chose two people's in class to go over.
1. Look carefully at the following sentence. Does it work? If so, why? If not, where can the sentence be broken into two or shorter ones that are not overwhelming.
Robert Mondavi's father, Cesare, came from Sassafarento near Ancona, on the Adriatic coast of the Marches -- not a particularly rich or fertile part of Italy even now, nor, except for Verdicchio, much of a wine-growing region.
It was a good deal less so, no doubt, in 1883, when Cesare was born, the son of a large, simple family and possibly the first member of it, I have read somewhere, to be able to sign his name. -- by Cyril Ray "Robert Mondavi of the Napa Valley"
2. Does this sentence work? If so, why? If not, please correct. The typical teenage user of snuff is white, active, athletic, and subject to very heavy peer pressure.
3. Same instructions -- The children gathered around the clown wishing for a balloon, angling for a smile, bowing before the childhood consumerism.
11/5
A dream to travel to the far corners of the world is what fuels Victor on his journey to Russia. There, Walden is faced with privation: death-like cold and intense loneliness. I thought Frankenstein was comparable to the 'Heart of Darkness' in that the protagonist instinctively throws himself into a perilous journey to fulfill his dream. He finds himself in a foreign land: a land of mist and ice. The letter style format of the novel makes the narration very personal. Yet, I fear that this will contribute to the unreliability of his voice.
11/3
1. Which of the following doesn't work? Why.
a. Bill played a musical number by Bach; Joan, Beethoven. *
b. Lou Williams was in for adultery; John Jones for gambling.
c. His mother told him to rent a car; his sister, to pack the suitcases.
2. Write your own original example.
I stopped
3. Find one from something you have read (this may take a couple of weeks).
10/26/09
Parallel Structure:
The business man, at the news of his dismissal, ran out of the room, while screaming at the top of his voice, tearing out his hair, and crying like a baby.
Repetition:
The only reason why I bother to come to school -waking up at 5:30 in the morning to ride the bus- is because the reason to be educated is reason enough.
10/16/09
Jocund - lively, cheerful / joyless
abscond - go and hide away / reveal yourself
10/13/09
Emissary - an agent sent on a mission of a secret nature, as a spy.
Cipher - something of no value or importance.
The conspirators sent emissaries to check up on the whereabouts of Mr. Kurtz. Marlow is in no way a cipher. He assumes a special status in the station; the brickmaker ingratiates himself with Marlow.
10/7/09
mizzen - a fore-and-aft sail set on a mizzenmast.
veneration - great respect
varnished - coated, to give a glossy appearance to. ex) varnish over the truth
sepulchre - burial tomb
10/6/09
Rapacious - greedy, predatory
Diaphanous - gossamer, shiny and transparent
Book report: The Sun also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
- a. identify climax, major conflict, resolution or denoument, what type of plot (see page of literary terms)
The Sun also Rises is about a group of American expatriate artists living debauched, extravagant, and unfulfilling lives in Europe. For the most part, the story progresses smoothly in chronological sequence as readers tail the experiences of Jake Barnes, a journalist living in Paris. The Major conflict in this story is between Jake Barnes and his cruel fate; his inability to fulfill his love for Brett Ashley. The readers experience this feeling of pitiable wistfulness, as Jake’s relationship with the woman is hampered by Jake’s impotency, an outcome of his fighting in the war. This sheds to light an important theme, sex. It is portrayed as a destructive, malicious force that destroys human relationships and leads to the deterioration of profound relationships.The climax of the story is when Robert Cohn, a retired boxing champion, goes on to beat the living daylights out of Jake, Michael, then Pedro Romero. Cohn’s stubborn love for Lady Ashley provokes him to commit such atrocities.
The resolution follows the falling action; the nights of hectic partying comes to an end and the gang go their separate ways. Jake enjoys a few days alone in San Sebastian then goes to Madrid and reunites with Brett.
- b. comment about setting
Reading about the setting was one of the most enjoyable parts about reading this novel. The story moves from Paris in France, to Pamplona in Spain, and concludes at Madrid. Hemingway leads us through this journey: the beautiful translucent streets of night time Paris, the green pastures of the Spanish countryside, the passionate bullfights, avid aficionados and nights of booze in heart of Pamplona. Hemingway’s prose comes alive as he describes these settings in awesome detail and vividness. I felt as if I was there with the gang traveling through parts of Europe during the 1930s.- c. identify one major symbol and one minor.
Bullfighting is a major symbol in this novel. One of the most important and enthralling scenes in the whole novel is the bullfight scene of Pedro Romero: “The bull charged as Romero charged. Romero’s left hand dropped the muleta over the bull’s muzzle to blind him, his let shoulder went forward between the horns as the sword went it, and for just an instant he and the bull were one” (Hemingway 222). Romero maneuvers the bull with deftness unmatched by other bullfighters. This brutal yet graceful display of strength represents the- d. discuss two characters. Label as round or flat, dynamic or static. Are they archetypal or foils?
Brett Ashley is a very important character in the novel. She is the source of the conflicts that happen throughout the story. She has an irresistible appeal, does not believe in deep relationships, lives a wild, extravagant life mingled with sex and booze. These trait stay constant throughout the entire novel; Brett is a prime example of a static character.In contrast, Jake is a dynamic character
- e. Open to the exact middle. What page? Write one paragraph about how this one page relates thematically, symbolically,
or other (just not all plot) to the rest of the book.I opened to page 122. The scene describes Jake’s excursion with Bill to the Spanish countryhouse, where they lazily enjoy days of fishing, reading and
- f. Tell me one thing other that really only someone who has read the book will get.
After reading this book, I became more independent and extravagant. The indiscriminate wasting of money on vanities like booze, sex, food, and more booze is disturbing. But at the same time, I began to mull over how it would be like to actually live extravagant lives as these characters do. Going on luxuriant splurges, drinking your living daylights away and most of all, without having to be pressured by responsibilities of any kind. Living with the flow, blowing with the wind and going wherever your instincts take you. This kind of life for me is unimaginable.Oh, one more thing Ms. Porter. You know how you said that everything in the novel has a purpose and contributes to the story? I really don’t think this applies to ‘The Sun also Rises.’ Hemingway’s style of narration has no sense of DIRECTION. I sometimes felt lost, overwhelmed by the amount of superfluous detail and narration that really seemed to have no purpose whatsoever. The long, vivid descriptions of the extravagant nights spent drinking booze were really enthralling, but REALISM -- reality is sometimes just reality. In which case, not every thought or move has to do with the larger purpose. However, I propose to you that some of this superfluous detail involves more what Jake is trying to hide that what is on the page. 12/12
9/25/09
Epicurean - hedonic, pleasure seeking
Iniquity - injustice, an evil act
9/23/09
Inculcate - instill, teach by repeated instruction
Castration - remove testicles
Castration anxiety - fear of losing your testicles, translates to power, masculinity
Castration anxiety is inculcated in the minds of male viewers. The sight of female spectacle suggests the threat of castration, and thus "unpleasure" for the male audience. This phenomenon lends to the idea that femininity is somehow lacking and powerless. Hence, the image of a passive, impotent female reinforces the
9/14/09
Endemic - pertaining to a particular area or region
The H1N1 virus is not endemic to one country. It has disseminated to other places around the world and is not confined to one specific region.
I thought the essay on Metamorphosis was very far reaching. It had depth and it was clear that the author knew what he was talking about. He made clear connections with current events, substantiated his points with evidence and made his case pretty well. But aside from that, as I was reading, I began to think that some of Beedle;s thoughts were exaggerated and blown up. Is metamorphosis really a metaphor to the sweeping cultural changes happening in America? Does Gregor's transformation really have anything to do with homosexuality? I am not sure whether Kafka would attest to these points, but those arguments were pretty convincing.
9/10/09
The Boston common, a public area in downtown Boston, is the main setting for the short story 'The Patriot,' which is about a man who argues to such an extent that it becomes a sophism. ( insert vocab word).
9/9/09
Borge Imitation:
Here, I bring my breakfast to a close. All of the rest (save the bacon and the toast), unfortunately, was left sitting on the living room table untouched. Let it suffice for me to recall the succulent juices of that nicely smoked piece of bacon, or the sumptuous flavors of the soft French toast. The Bread, was imported from the Agen, a small village in highlands of Corsica (southwest of Italy and southeast of France), where yellow wheat thrives on the plentiful sun and fertile soil. In my mind, there is still controversy over whether the perfectly cooked bacon or the sweet French toast, was more appetizing. The latter is most likely.
Sophism - A flawed argument superficially correct in its reasoning, usually designed to deceive. An intentional fallacy
Tlon is a sophism
8/31/09
Pinguid - pertaining to fat, greasy or oily
The pinguidity of the Chinese cuisine makes me sick.
My blog :D
http://leavethelighton-yongmin.blogspot.com/
8/27/09
Inveterate - Habitual
8/25/09
Gambit - ploy, stratagem
Katherine Mansfield's 'The Fly' is a short story about a dignified man grieving for his deceased son. The story takes place in the boss's room with Mr. Woodfield, his good acquaintance. The story makes a sudden shift from the boss mourning over his son who died in the war, to a fly that has fallen in an inkpot, trying desperately to keep itself alive. The boss's transformation from a vulnerable, helpless character to an overbearing remorseless brute is described in the story. I believe Mansfield tries to capture the hopelessness and brutality of world war I, which is portrayed through the small, weak fly. The boss embodies the immorality and devaluation of life that occurs during wartime; he constantly pushes the fly towards the brink of death, eventually bringing the poor creature to its demise. The irony is that the transformation happens in a blink of an eye:
http://penzen-ssn.blogspot.com/
I read the blog post called ‘you only live twice.’ It’s actually a very dreamy blog post; teen musing on the thought ‘what if you could live once more?’ You wouldn't expect it to be appropriate for a college essay. But really, aren’t college essays looking for how you are as a person? What you are thinking and things that you value as an individual? In that sense, this post fits the purpose. She looks back on her life as if she has finished living it, and she is moving on to her next life. This gives her room for self reflection and development of her character.
2) http://the-guitarplayer.com/2009/08/13/john-schofield-acoustic-guitar-youtube/
This is a video blogpost on John Schofield, a renowned contemporary jazz guitarist. Listening to jazz guitar is an enjoyable experience; it is an emotional ride that leaves you in with mixed feelings of melancholy and bliss. I’ve realized something after watching this blog post: music doesn’t get as much ‘corporeal’ as it does with jazz. Schofield’s physical attachment to the music is manifested through his facial expression: the tingling of his lips, the faint fluttering of his eyelids as he maneuvers effortlessly through the notes on his rather ‘plain’ acoustic guitar. There’s nothing flamboyant or lavish about his playing. But the beauty of the music comes from the frank expression of emotions by means of musical notes. This piece is called ‘My Ideal.’ What better way to express this intangible idea than through music? Sometimes words just don’t cut it.
3) http://indianben.blogspot.com/
I read the blog post called ‘general class,’ a personal commentary about a man who finds himself on the most squalid section of a train in India. What makes this writing superb is the author’s expressive voice and descriptiveness. As I am reading, I can picture the man anxiously pushing and pulling his way toward the train through the crowd of strangers who throw him wary, mistrustful looks. I can feel the mixed emotions he must have felt as he found himself unguarded in an alien environment. The author’s frank, candid transmission of his emotions and descriptive illustration is what makes this blog enjoyable.