Friday, September 26, 2008
uncouth rivets!
There is a passage about rivets on page 30. Marow is talking to the foreman (the boiler maker) about how they shall have rivets. The foreman expresses disbelief... and then Marlow says "instead of rivets there came an invasion, an infection, a visitation." He then describes the invasion in somewhat of a pretentious way; talking about the appearances of the people. Using the word "invasion" is comparing the native to animals yet again. " four such installments came, with their absurd air of disorderly flight" is speaking to yet again the idea of colonization. Marlow is repeatedly reinforcing the idea of the natives being uncouth and untamed- they are disorderly and uneducated, which is why he is repeatedly comparing them to animals. Though the deal with the rivets began several pages earlier, it can also be used to instill the sense of un-civilization- the lack of something as mundane and commonplace as a rivet can be a lack of "civilization" in a way.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Marlow's Aunt
Hopefully it is kosher to write about the section that I talked about in class, because that is what I am about to do (if it isn't then just tell me and I will post on something different)
When Marlow sees his aunt, they begin talking about the his trip to Africa. She is convinced that what he is about to do is very noble- at one point she mentions 'weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways" This leads Marlow to make the statement about how Women are off in their own little beautiful worlds, and that everything is right and wonderful in the worlds of women. (It's queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own), Though this is obviously says a lot about the views of women, it also brings the idea of darkness back up. The word "beautiful" is repeated several times, emphasizing the perfection of the "woman's" world. This in turn brings out the imperfections and "darkness" of the "real" world. Yet another chance for Joseph Conrad to isolate the "darkness" of the world. He also talks about how his aunt sees him as the emissary of light... (this goes back with the idea of conquering the "horrid ways" and he is bringing the light of colonialism to the dark and unrefined world of the natives.
When Marlow sees his aunt, they begin talking about the his trip to Africa. She is convinced that what he is about to do is very noble- at one point she mentions 'weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways" This leads Marlow to make the statement about how Women are off in their own little beautiful worlds, and that everything is right and wonderful in the worlds of women. (It's queer how out of touch with truth women are. They live in a world of their own), Though this is obviously says a lot about the views of women, it also brings the idea of darkness back up. The word "beautiful" is repeated several times, emphasizing the perfection of the "woman's" world. This in turn brings out the imperfections and "darkness" of the "real" world. Yet another chance for Joseph Conrad to isolate the "darkness" of the world. He also talks about how his aunt sees him as the emissary of light... (this goes back with the idea of conquering the "horrid ways" and he is bringing the light of colonialism to the dark and unrefined world of the natives.
Evening Concert, Saint Chapelle
Evening Concert, Saint-Chapelle
The celebrated windows flamed with light
directly pouring north across the Seine;
we rustled into place. Then violins
vaunting Vivaldi’s strident strength, then Brahms,
seemed to suck with their passionate sweetness,
bit by bit, the vigor from the red,
the blazing blue, so that the listening eye
saw suddenly the thick black lines, in shapes
of shield and cross and strut and brace, that held
the holy glowing fantasy together.
The music surged; the glow became a milk,
a whisper to the eye, a glimmer ebbed
until our beating hearts, our violins
were cased in thin but solid sheets of lead.
—John Updike
This poem, to me, speaks about the power that music has. I personally have an intense emotional response to music, and the poem illustrates that for me. It tends to bring up not only very vivid emotions but also images. I believe the poem speaks to this emotional response that music brings, and the images. The line " so that the listening eye
saw suddenly the thick black lines, in shapes
of shield and cross and strut and brace, that held
the holy glowing fantasy together."
The idea of "the listening eye" is what jumps out at me the most, because it is true that one listens to music with much more than just the ear. Music creates a picture in the brain that the eye can see- the picture can even be put onto paper. Sometimes in middle or elementary school children will be asked to draw what the music makes them feel- to draw the image that the music captures. The poem was most likely written after a particular powerful concert, and Updike felt moved to not only see an image but also write a poem about it. The poem in a way creates the same musicality as music itself: the sentences ebb and flow, strong words and statements are sprinkled through-out. The poem embodies the mind of a music enthusiast.
The celebrated windows flamed with light
directly pouring north across the Seine;
we rustled into place. Then violins
vaunting Vivaldi’s strident strength, then Brahms,
seemed to suck with their passionate sweetness,
bit by bit, the vigor from the red,
the blazing blue, so that the listening eye
saw suddenly the thick black lines, in shapes
of shield and cross and strut and brace, that held
the holy glowing fantasy together.
The music surged; the glow became a milk,
a whisper to the eye, a glimmer ebbed
until our beating hearts, our violins
were cased in thin but solid sheets of lead.
—John Updike
This poem, to me, speaks about the power that music has. I personally have an intense emotional response to music, and the poem illustrates that for me. It tends to bring up not only very vivid emotions but also images. I believe the poem speaks to this emotional response that music brings, and the images. The line " so that the listening eye
saw suddenly the thick black lines, in shapes
of shield and cross and strut and brace, that held
the holy glowing fantasy together."
The idea of "the listening eye" is what jumps out at me the most, because it is true that one listens to music with much more than just the ear. Music creates a picture in the brain that the eye can see- the picture can even be put onto paper. Sometimes in middle or elementary school children will be asked to draw what the music makes them feel- to draw the image that the music captures. The poem was most likely written after a particular powerful concert, and Updike felt moved to not only see an image but also write a poem about it. The poem in a way creates the same musicality as music itself: the sentences ebb and flow, strong words and statements are sprinkled through-out. The poem embodies the mind of a music enthusiast.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Eveline
Eveline is a story about a girl who is on her way to be married, but suddenly realizes that it is not what she really wants.
level one: Where are Frank and Eveline supposed to go live?
level two: does Eveline ever truly want to marry Frank?
level three: How does this story represent the human complex of desiring what one can't have, and then when one gets it, they don't really want it anymore?
Though the story was, in tandem with usual James Joyce style, confusing, I enjoyed it. Plot-wise, I completely saw the end coming. I knew that she was going to end up not being able to go with him, because the voice Joyce had written with describing her feelings for him was not particularly encouraging. I didn't, however, get much out of it on a level that went beyond the plot and an analyzation of Eveline's character. She obviously has no idea what she wants, which could reflect Joyce's perception of society or even himself. I caught a reference to a yellowing picture of a priest, which could carry the whole "death of church" trend. However the story was for the most part somewhat unclear.
level one: Where are Frank and Eveline supposed to go live?
level two: does Eveline ever truly want to marry Frank?
level three: How does this story represent the human complex of desiring what one can't have, and then when one gets it, they don't really want it anymore?
Though the story was, in tandem with usual James Joyce style, confusing, I enjoyed it. Plot-wise, I completely saw the end coming. I knew that she was going to end up not being able to go with him, because the voice Joyce had written with describing her feelings for him was not particularly encouraging. I didn't, however, get much out of it on a level that went beyond the plot and an analyzation of Eveline's character. She obviously has no idea what she wants, which could reflect Joyce's perception of society or even himself. I caught a reference to a yellowing picture of a priest, which could carry the whole "death of church" trend. However the story was for the most part somewhat unclear.
Araby
Araby is a story about a boy who is madly in love with the sister of his best friend.
Level 1- Why does the boy go to the bazaar?
level 2- What does the dying priest represent?
level 3- What do you feel about Joyce's stance on the death of the Catholic church?
Araby was somewhat difficult to get through because though it wasn't enjoyable, it didn't have a surface point. Obviously Joyce was directing it to something deeper; the death of the catholic church, the growing materialism in the world. He is getting at a social commentary about Dublin. However, Joyce's handcrafted work needs much interpreting to make sense as being anything past the surface level. Though I got the Chalice reference and the dead-end reference out of it, the idea of the church did not really seem to fit in. The dying priest, though he played a part in the story, did not play a part in the plot. It read almost as if it were thrown in there to try to create the reference to the church offhandedly. However, as the story goes on to talk about the tree, and the saintliness of the girl, etc, the reference to the church begins to make sense.
Level 1- Why does the boy go to the bazaar?
level 2- What does the dying priest represent?
level 3- What do you feel about Joyce's stance on the death of the Catholic church?
Araby was somewhat difficult to get through because though it wasn't enjoyable, it didn't have a surface point. Obviously Joyce was directing it to something deeper; the death of the catholic church, the growing materialism in the world. He is getting at a social commentary about Dublin. However, Joyce's handcrafted work needs much interpreting to make sense as being anything past the surface level. Though I got the Chalice reference and the dead-end reference out of it, the idea of the church did not really seem to fit in. The dying priest, though he played a part in the story, did not play a part in the plot. It read almost as if it were thrown in there to try to create the reference to the church offhandedly. However, as the story goes on to talk about the tree, and the saintliness of the girl, etc, the reference to the church begins to make sense.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
The Misfit
The Misfit is a story about a family that has a confrontation with a murderer, and a woman's misplaced attempts to try and make the man see truth.
level one: What was the misfit originally convicted of?
level two: Why is the grandmother suddenly trying to convert the misfit?
level three: Why does an obsession with religious conversion always end badly?
This story was really bizarre. However I enjoyed it, even though technically it had a sad ending. The grandmother was a complete nutter. Just like the last story, I feel like there is a decent amount of the beginning of the story that is either unnecessary or not written extremely well. However as a whole I felt like the rocking horse winner was written better stylistically, because it tended to flow a little better.
It is interesting to me how people can be talked to about practically anything except religion. Once someone begins to talk about Jesus or God people just tend to shut down. I think the story is very explicit with that- not only are the characters in the story frustrated with the Grandmother (such as the misfit), but as a reader one kind of just wants her to be quiet. It is interesting how the grandmother chooses this in her desperation as opposed to just simply begging the misfit not to shoot her.
level one: What was the misfit originally convicted of?
level two: Why is the grandmother suddenly trying to convert the misfit?
level three: Why does an obsession with religious conversion always end badly?
This story was really bizarre. However I enjoyed it, even though technically it had a sad ending. The grandmother was a complete nutter. Just like the last story, I feel like there is a decent amount of the beginning of the story that is either unnecessary or not written extremely well. However as a whole I felt like the rocking horse winner was written better stylistically, because it tended to flow a little better.
It is interesting to me how people can be talked to about practically anything except religion. Once someone begins to talk about Jesus or God people just tend to shut down. I think the story is very explicit with that- not only are the characters in the story frustrated with the Grandmother (such as the misfit), but as a reader one kind of just wants her to be quiet. It is interesting how the grandmother chooses this in her desperation as opposed to just simply begging the misfit not to shoot her.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Rocking Horse Winner
The rocking horse winner is a story about a boy who is born to "unlucky" parents, and determined to be "lucky", is able to determine the winner of a future horse race if he rides his rocking horse to the finish.
1) What does the boy ride?
2) Why does the boy finally die? Is he lucky or unlucky?
3) What does it mean to be lucky? Why is it important that "luck" extends beyond wealth?
The Rocking Horse Winner has a theme of luck and one's drive for wealth. The boy, who claims to be lucky, comes from a family of people that claim to be unlucky. The theme of the story is essentially the drive to be wealthy. The boy confuses luck with wealth... and the mom's description of the fact that "luck" is what brings you wealth is to blame. The boy was brought up in a family without love- his mother didn't love him, and he knew this. The family was also brought up without money, so the boy felt that if he were lucky enough to bring in wealth, the family would be saved. However his drive for luck got mixed up with his drive for wealth- one can't make himself lucky, but one can make himself wealthy. He essentially drove away his entire family when he was on his rocking horse trying to see the finish- but he totally neglected that there is a lot more that his family needed then just money. Therefore in the end he was not lucky, but unlucky, for he was only looking for the finish.
1) What does the boy ride?
2) Why does the boy finally die? Is he lucky or unlucky?
3) What does it mean to be lucky? Why is it important that "luck" extends beyond wealth?
The Rocking Horse Winner has a theme of luck and one's drive for wealth. The boy, who claims to be lucky, comes from a family of people that claim to be unlucky. The theme of the story is essentially the drive to be wealthy. The boy confuses luck with wealth... and the mom's description of the fact that "luck" is what brings you wealth is to blame. The boy was brought up in a family without love- his mother didn't love him, and he knew this. The family was also brought up without money, so the boy felt that if he were lucky enough to bring in wealth, the family would be saved. However his drive for luck got mixed up with his drive for wealth- one can't make himself lucky, but one can make himself wealthy. He essentially drove away his entire family when he was on his rocking horse trying to see the finish- but he totally neglected that there is a lot more that his family needed then just money. Therefore in the end he was not lucky, but unlucky, for he was only looking for the finish.
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