"Sylvia's Death" by Anne Sexton

I find this poem to be some what disturbing because of the reflection it had to Sylvia Plath's life. I know that Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton were friends but it seems that it was a dark connection that brought the two together. This is shown in the line "the death we both said we out grew". I know from reading more into their lives both women were suicidal and both had attempted to commit suicide. The line "with two children, two meteors wandering loose in the tiny playroom" is quite sad. I feel that Anne hadn't came to any reasoning to why Sylvia would want to abandon her children and I ask the same question. Being a mom is a very rewarding experience and I would think that someone who has children would want to experience a long life so they can watch them grow. I would think that this could be something Sylvia could find enjoyment in. Apparently the happiness that children bring mother's in this world may have been lacking in her situation. It's all so depressing.

"Cathedral" Raymond Carver

In this short story you find the narrator being the protagonist. His character is seen as a individual that is very judgemental to the other characters in the story. He doesn't seem to fond of his wife and is not to happy about her blind friend  (the antagonist) coming to stay with them for a few days. It seems that since the narrator hasn't any knowledge of blind people he comes off a little negative to the situation. The story takes a turn at the end when the narrator describes to the blind man the architecture of cathedrals, influenced by the television program he is watching. It is when the blind man gives the narrator the idea to get a piece of paper and has him close his eyes and draw while guiding the blind man's hand along the way. Once finished the narrator has an epiphany. He is taken back and gets the idea of how being blind does not eliminate the detailed visual one can gain from this technique. He realizes blind people are not as much in the dark as he thought. I think it was quit clever when Dr. Cassel stated in class, "who is really the blind one in this story?" I agree with this statement and feel that this story had an ironic meaning to it overall.

"Diving into the Wreck" Adrienne Rich

"Diving into the Wreck" is one of Adrienne Rich's most memorable poems. As we talked about in class' Rich was a feminist writer who supported women's liberation for most of her life. This poem shows how she wanted to give power to women. The quote "First having read the book of myths, and loaded the camera, and checked the edge of the knife-blade I put on the body-armor of black rubber" I get almost a warrior impression from this line and almost link it to the goddess Athena in which she's referring to "the book of myths". Maybe she is referring to mythology and how the goddess Athena was a woman warrior-like goddess. The poem continues to give the speaker a sense of heroism which gives me the impression of "girl power".

I really like this poem and far as Rich her tactics on feminism seem to hold women with power instead of slamming men or being dark like Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton which would make sense because the two had confessional style poems.

"Howl" Allen Ginsberg

"Howl" is quit an interesting piece. I had never read this before and I have to say that this must have been a jaw dropper of it's time to conservatives. I can see how it had political influence to those at the time that were reading that wanted change, protesting the government and the war. He shows this through quotes like "who cowered in unshaven rooms in underwear, burning their money in wastebaskets and listing to the Terror through the wall". This seems to be referring to rejecting capitalism and being more supportive of communism.

I know that Ginsberg was into drugs which we went over in class. It seems that many writers did drugs to help stimulate their minds and it is obvious that Ginsberg did just that by being "out there" writing "Howl" with out any sensor. This writing was very controversial for the time as well as for today. I think when people read it today they are shocked from some of the lines, I know I was.

"Death of A Salesman" by Authur Miller

After reading "Death of a Salesman" I was left with the impression that the author, Arthur Miller was trying to give readers the idea that mid 20th century America was obsessed with the image of wholesome family togetherness. For example, you have a father who is the bread winner driven to do all he can to support his family and a mother that takes the role of the glue that sticks everyone together seeming a little submissive to her husband.  As well as two sons especially Biff that at one time seemed to be the perfect mold for the "all American" sports star.  To Americans at the time it was important for many men being the bread winners to grab a piece of the "American Dream". I think this is shown in the reading by how the character Willy obsesses on making a successful living so that his family  could reap the benefits of what he could offer by his establishments. 

When I saw the movie version of "Death of a Salesman" I thought it was very interesting to see how the setting was put together there seemed to be a stage presence rather than a normal moving feeling. I thought that it was interesting how this was done it being a play and all but it didn't seem real enough for me.  Regular movies seem to dramatize and fluff things a little more which draw me in. Nonetheless, the movie followed along like the reading.

"Zeitoun"

I felt that the novel Zeitoun was a very interesting story. I felt that Zeitoun was a very admirable person for the contributions he made on behalf of other hurricane Katrina victims left behind, people and animals. Being an animal lover this story made a familiar connection with me. Zeitoun caring for the left behind dogs  showed that he was a good person. I was very sad at the end of the book when I came to learn that the dogs had died. Along with the sadness of abandoned animals was sadness of stranded human beings as well. Zeitoun did many things in the book that made me think there are good and caring people in this world.
I couldn't believe what had happened to Zeitoun and all the ridiculousness he went through after the hurricane. I also couldn't believe how as an American, he was denied his rights and arrested for no apparent reason other than an assumption.
The authority that was in New Orleans was on a high power trip and from the beginning they had their guards up and many civilians looked like criminals including Zeitoun. As I read about all the things Zeitoun seen and what he felt I got a chilling feeling. Reading that our country adopted third world characteristics and handled the situation in an unprofessional manor really upset and frightened me.

"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker

In our last class we were asked if we could relate to the characters in "Everyday Use" on the idea of being educated may separate you from others in our families. I can kinda relate to the mother/daughter relationship of Mama and Dee in the story and how the growth/lack of education discouraged their relationship. It seems since I had gotten an education I tend to over look my mother's advice or pay no mind to what she has to say because I feel she is not at the same level of thinking as I am. I don't do this on purpose but I just find that since I have been educated I can look at things with more of an open mind. On the other hand my mom seems to be more closed minded about a lot of things so we "butt heads" one might say. All though she is proud of my accomplishments I sometimes think she gets upset and thinks I don't appreciate her and that I think I'm better, which is not true. I'm very blessed to come where I come from and to have had a loving and caring family.

"Corsons Inlet"

In "Corsons Inlet" on line 93 you can find the word "field" marked with quotations.  Ammons shares his interest in nature throughout the poem and in this particular section of the poem he is describing tree swallows as they begin to take flight for migration.  He writes:

"the news to my left over the dunes and reeds and bayberry clumps was fall: thousands of tree swallows gathering for flight: an order held in constant change: a congregation rich with entropy: nevertheless, separable, noticeable as one event, flight from winter, cheet, cheet, cheet, cheet, wings rifling the green clumps, beaks at the bay berries a perception full of wind, flight, curve, sound: the possibility of rule as the sum of rulelessness: the "field" in action with moving, incalculable center. 

My idea for the reasoning for why Ammons quoted the word field is because I think Ammons in his vision while writing this he seen a great majority of the tree swallows gathering in the field preparing for the flight of migration and noticed the birds as they move around the fields as if the field its self was moving about.  I have noticed myself when birds in large groups seek a near by field for a gathering area they go about creating almost a sea  like effect, from a distance its almost wave like.  Its only times like these that the field has such action. Most of the time they are empty and still waiting to come to life in the fall when the birds have returned.  For Ammons to quote the word field it could be a pun or just emphasis on expressing how the field came into action with the help of the birds.

Invisible Man

I feel that the character in the reading "Invisible Man" found the success that he needed to find.  But in the back of his mind was unsure if he went about finding the success he searched for in the best way possible.

Relating to a time when I felt successful would have to be when I graduated from Miami University with my Bachelor's in History.  Even though I knew this was a great success I knew eventually I would have to go to graduate school to actually make my degree worth while.  I had a four year degree that I couldn't do much with, it would take having to pursue my master's in education to accomplish what I really wanted "to do when I grow up".

I think many of us have had a time when we feel invisible.  I sometimes feel invisible when I'm alone in a new or unfamiliar place.  For instance, when starting a new school I have found myself looking around and noticing everyone seems to know someone but me. At first I feel like the loneliest person alive and lost but eventually I get into the groove of things meet people and find my place.  What once was new and unknown becomes second nature therefore I don't feel invisible anymore.

Gertrude Stein "Tender Buttons"

The poem "Tender Buttons" consist of no particular characters only objects.  I have learned that during the time Stein wrote this poem, American women were fighting for change and equal rights.  This was also around the era of cubist influenced painters; which seem to impact the thoughts of Stein and her writing of "Tender Buttons".  I feel Stein was proud of the way women were evolving and through her work she wanted to express female awareness focusing little on the presence of male involvement.  The objects being presented in the poem seem to be described in a feminine manor eliminating masculinity. I will be honest and say that I have a hard time understanding this poem and exactly what Stein is explaining through her play on words but I do find it very interesting and mysterious.  Talking about the "Carafe" in class started to make more sense to me by hearing other students thoughts. I was more able to draw a visual picture in my head about what Stein may have meant.  The students that shared their ideas were very creative making it easier to understand, rather than interpreting it on my own.  I would recommend this to others to read because it is such a unique piece of literature.