Technology

This isn’t my first online English class, yet it is the first one that has changed my perspective on how I feel about it. Online learning is different of course. In this class it has its parts where it is like an in class, class. So in person learning it is typical interaction face-to-face, tangible and possibly easier to stay focused. Online you have no interaction and nothing is in person. This semester we were able to do videos and got to know our classmates more than a regular online class. The challenges to taking an online class are the distractions, facebook (for the random every 5 minutes procrastination), television, friends, bed (because anything involving school makes you sleepy) and no instructor to keep you focused when you start to doze off. The benefits of taking an online class are being able to get ahead more than a regular class. Also, other benefits are being able to do your work whenever you can, no tardy, no absent marks and you can be sick and still “go to class”. It isn’t that bad at all when you think about it. One of the technologies we used this semester was blogger.com it really opened my eyes and helped me with my essays with the comments I received. Blogger also benefits with the interaction with classmates, how everyone decorated their blogs you got a slight idea of how they are as well as their writing styles. I found it very beneficial, I hope that more instructors choose this way of interaction. 

image source here.

Final Presentation

Final Presentation

I couldn't figure out how to make it into a video that just opens on the blog. So you'll have to click the link above to view. (:

Reflection

Taking this class has been a struggle and a mountain to overcome. I’ve always had troubles in English classes due to procrastination and to being not motivated. The skills that I have learned in this class has been my writing process, I’ve added extra reviews into what I typically do. I notice that the more people who review it for me the better the writing in the end. I plan to apply that to my future college courses when essays come along. Hopefully that will better my grades. The readings in the class haven’t affected me much, one thing that it has done is opened my eyes to what other kinds of things there are to read, I learned that the readings in the class are the kind I would like to avoid in the future. I’ve never liked reading but having to read Frankenstein really pushed me to my limits and made me have to step outside the box to fully understand the book. I think I have met the learning outcomes for the class, the one that I think I still have problems with is to interpret and analyze texts, I understand it but I seem to struggle in that the most than anything. With the essay we did for Frankenstein I found that the most troubling essay, especially sense the book wasn’t of my interest. The process to getting the essay finished was hard, the book never really stuck in my head, which made it a struggle, once I got it finished my grade was not what I’d like but it just made me more determined to succeed in my next essays. The one outcome I feel that I succeeded in most is the organizational strategies, taking this class took me to a new level of organization. In both life and in my essays, it wasn’t easy but I feel that I have brought my organization up in this class. My writing process has changed in a few little ways, the main thing is that I review it more than I used to. I have more people review it and mush all of their opinions into my paper and I think it has really helped my finals seem more finalized. The biggest challenges were in writing. The analysis writing is the hardest I’ve ever had to deal with, when it comes to essays. I’m not a deep reader; I don’t typically read between the lines and analyze what it could mean. So I found it the hardest thing to over come, I still don’t feel extremely confident in it but I definitely feel better now than I did at the beginning of the class. Overall I have gained a lot from this class. I hope to use what I have learned in my future classes and in life. 

Zombies

In the introduction to American Zombie Gothic Kyle William Bishop states, “Historically, zombie cinema had represented a stylized reaction to the greater cultural consciousness – primarily social and political injustices – and America in the 1990s settled perhaps into too much complacency and stability to warrant serious, classical zombie narratives.” (Bishop, 15) This part in particular stuck out to me the most. My idea of what he said are basically us as Americans caused zombies to truly come alive. Someone intelligent came up with a fun theatrical way to explain how the government or how the world is going to crap. I for one, hate scary movies only by force, dragged by my feet, clawing at the doors refusing to enter have seen only a few. One movie I have seen by choice, Zombie Land. While yes, it is absolutely funny and not as scary as I expected it still shows that for them, the world was gone, the main characters in the movie were the only people left. Looking for a safe place just as we are on this world. We are always expecting the worst and to have safe place like home, it is what we need at the end of the day. Now, most people probably don’t think about it but after doing the research for the last essay made me open my eyes to see what these movies might be saying. Now I see Zombie land is funny yes, but really tells you a story that the world is falling apart it is always helpful to have someone by your side whether family or stranger. The government can one day fail us and we might not have anything to do to stop it. To let go of everything you know is a scary thought and to start over or fight for your life. People do have to fight these fears already but as a hole it could be really scary. Zombies overall have many different meanings that could potentially change views for a lot of people.

image found here 

Draft of Final

Charming Vampires

            Vampires the monsters that were once portrayed as scary are not so scary anymore. They are immortal monsters, living forever, feeding on the living until they come across the wrong path. Vampires used to be something to be warned of, bloodthirsty and a monster that no one should mess with. Because of “Twilight” and other glorified vampire movies and television shows. Vampires are now looked at as, dare I say, sexy, beautiful creatures that roam the earth without warning. Vampires are viewed as a romance, the perfect lover to always be near. Being different can be looked down upon, the recent vampire movies seem to open eyes showing viewers that anyone can be loved. They are monsters indeed; though throughout the years their vicious behaviors have changed and the outlook of what we all knew as a dangerous monster is now dangerously charming.

             In most recent vampire movies like “Twilight” bring new views to the spectrum. Like in earlier vampire movies they are portrayed as lovers or a romance. On the Monstrous website they state, “In a few cases, such as the Dearg-Due of Ireland, the vampire is a beautiful female that uses her beauty to seduce her victims.”(Monstrous, Hollywood Vampires) Now when they say, “seduce her victims” something could be very similar, possibly a beautiful woman reeling in handsome men to follow her around and keep her company throughout the night out on the town. But when she is through with them she easily disposes of them and will possibly never see them again. In a vampire’s situation, they reel their victim in, use them or in this case drink their blood but in such a violently sexual way. Once they are through with you they leave the victim lay there dead. Vampires are known for killing their victims by sucking blood out of their neck. In most scenes the victim screams a pleasurable violent scream. It almost sounds as if they are at climax, which gives the idea that vampires might as well be a romance. As confusing as it may be, how could a vampire be so attractive and yet have a side to them that is so potentially dangerous humans cannot resist the temptations of being lured into their trance.

Falling for someone who is not in mind of perfect is something that happens daily. People fall in love; you cannot stop or force whom it may be with. So as most people judge who they fall in love with and are careful not to do it with the wrong one, we are all hopeless. Being out casted puts you on a list that is taboo, forbidden to cross if you are on the list of the beautiful. Unfortunately it stops a lot more people than it should, breaking rules in this case is okay. In these movies, which are occasionally, ridiculous to think of actually do make a point. They can be startling or scary, not suitable for children but do make an amazing point. Even though these vampires are cold to the touch, feast off of people; the women or sometimes men, fall in love. In “Twilight” the movie, the main character Bella says, “About three things I was absolutely positive: first, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him - and I didn’t know how dominant that part might be - that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him."(Twilight, movie) Bella knew he was different the moment she laid eyes on him and it didn’t stop her from doing anything she could possibly later regret. Now in the story Bella is confronted by Edward the vampire and tells her that he can’t let her go. Giving the Idea that vampires mate for life.

            The black sheep of today may not be a vampire but is different than what most call “normal”. The persona of a vampire is that they look and act different than a typical human being. They are pale, cannot be seen in sunlight, have cold skin to the touch and many other traits. They are not normal they are outcasts that stir up commotion or what some people call gossip. Just like the kids in class that dress Goth, or the kids that do nothing but hide inside all day playing video games. In “Twilight” Bella the newcomer to her school sees these kids come into the cafeteria while she is eating and asks a friend who they are. To her self she says, “I felt a surge of pity, and relief. Pity because, as beautiful as they were, they were outsiders, clearly not accepted. Relief that I wasn't the only newcomer here, and certainly not the most interesting by any standard.”(Twilight, 29) They are not like the typical teen, or are they? If it is hard to understand the idea that vampires are outsiders. Imagine a world, where the outcasts are vampires like in “Twilight” and “Dracula” a world where the living is completely normal, everyone fits in and the outcasts are vampires in disguise until someone pushes the boundaries.  In the book “Dracula” Mr. Harker describes Count Dracula as he greets him at the door of his castle, “Within, stood a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, with out a single speck of color about him anywhere.”(Stoker, 16)

            People had different views on vampires early in the years; they were horrific dead human looking monsters that were bloodthirsty and fed off of human’s blood. They weren’t considered attractive or sexual at all, they almost resembled zombie like. Come to think of it Vampires are like Zombies only vampires survive off of blood, zombies off of human flesh. Bram Stoker author of “Dracula” change it all. Stoker started a new era of vampires which led us to today with “Twilight”, movie and “True blood”, television show. On the website Monstrous they discuss sex and vampires and how it all relates to each other.

“With the coming of the Victorian age, both the male and female vampire became beautiful and both exhibited a sexual appetite, though both vampire and vampiress retained the beauty as only a facade. The penetration of skin by sharp canine teeth easily evokes both violence and eroticism. In anger or distress the vampire still revealed its ugly, more corpse-like side.” (Monstrous, Sex and Vampires)

Vampires unlike any other monster are the only monsters that have a sexual tone to it. Giving viewers and readers an imagination like no other. There is a sense of pleasure while reading a book and watching a movie that has vampires in it. The thoughts and images that come to mind when reading these stories have this “I wish” kind of feeling. As the reader things like meeting a person who is desirably handsome with features that make you stumble and wonder bring delightful pondering on unrealistic needs.

            Certain things have stayed the same, myths in particular. Immortality, superhuman strength, shapeshifter, mind control and much more. Vampires throughout the years have had their changes and one thing has certainly for a long time remained the same, their ability to captivate minds of the innocent to feed their hunger. Vampires will continue to be a monster to be scared of, just with a twist of romanticism.

Works Cited

Monstrous. 1998-2009. http://www.Monstrous.com

Stoker, Bram. “Dracula”. W.R. Caldwell, 1987: 378

Meyer, Stephanie. “Twilight”. Little, Brown and Company: New York, 2005: 498

“Dracula”. Dir. Tod Browning. Universal Studios, February 14^th 1931. DVD.

“Twilight”. Dir. Catherine Hardwicke. Summit Entertainment, November 21^st 200

Annotated Bibliography

Stoker, Bram. Dracula. 1897. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990.

I chose this book because I have asked for advice on what to write this essay on. I have a bad case of writers block and can’t seem to get out of it. I am using this book as a reference for my essay to help give the ideas of what Vampires were considered. I have yet to have read the book but am in the process of it. I expect it to be like the movie which I have watched  to help me understand the book.

A. L. G. A Vampire, and other stories. 1884. New York: Oxford University Press.

From what I’ve taken reading this short story (or so I think that’s what it is considered). It consists of a small poem. Written in the late 1800’s I expect it to be similar to Dracula.

Meyer, Stephanie. Twilight. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2005. 544. Print

Twilight, the book everyone talks about. I have yet to have read it or watched the movies. I will vaguely read the multiple books Meyer has written. But focus on the first book mostly. I will use this as a source to show how vampires today, are beautiful and sexy.  

Image source here.

Project Proposal

          I am planning on completing option 2, mainly because I do not enjoy reading and with option two I’ll be able to read a little and possibly watch a movie to help me with the writings. I do not know what primary texts I plan on reading yet I am meeting with Laura Cline to figure out what I can do. With the project I hope to accomplish a good look on this type of writing style so far it has not been kind to me.  The research I plan to do it mainly Google, for web to see what it can give me site wise. I also plan to use books or short stories as well as movies. I hope this essay will run smoother than the third essay on Frankenstein.

Monster picture here and I know we aren't allowed to use wiki as a site but i thought this was cool :)

Mid-Term Check In

October 14, 2011

Dear Laura Cline,

So far in English 102 my biggest challenge is staying focused, I have never felt so pressured to do so much in a time span of a week. Being busy with not just this class but in others as well. Constantly fighting time and making sure I do not procrastinate to far along. My biggest success is getting the good grades and not procrastinating too much. 

The readings in the class have not really affected me at all. I am not much of a reader and usually just read to get the assignments done in time and well. Literary analysis is way different but at the same time very similar. Different by the way my brain is completely fried after writing an essay. It takes a toll out on me I am more of a relaxed essay kind of person so making sure I have great detail and make really good points that support everything else is hard. It is the same because I have kept the same writing process, with outlines, drafts and such.

My goals for the second half of the session is to make sure I stay kept up to date on assignments turning them in on time with the best quality I can give. Also another goal is to in general finish it! I do not want to get off track and start slacking so staying focused is important so that I can get a good grade in the end.

I hope to enjoy the rest of the semester and continue to grow in my literary analysis essay writings.

Your student,

Madeline Simon

Frankenstein

Madeline Simon

Cline

Essay #3

ENG 102

October 10, 2011

“Frankenstein”

             There are thousands of horror novels in the world.  “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley is one of them, the story has its fair share of controversy and many topics that could be twisted, discussed and argued about.  The story is touching and gives a feeling that not all monster, horror novels have.  “Frankenstein” is eye opening to a woman’s perspective of life, birth and breakdowns.  With the twist of a man creating a “monster” it truly shows what happens regularly with new mothers.  Mary Shelley while writing the book was going through great amounts of drama, which helped make the book so outrageous for Shelley’s time.  The frustration and worry when things don’t exactly go right, Shelley brings it out in the most odd way.

            The novel “Frankenstein” did not in fact come across as something that was an exciting sounding book.  As the reader, it was very difficult to really get into it and really truly enjoy myself.  There really weren’t any themes or motifs that stuck out until I got into reading the modern criticisms responses.  A criticism in particular really brought attention while reading through it, Ellen Moers “Female Gothic: The monster’s Mother”.  In her critique she discusses female gothic, how it was what most women would write about when writing about monsters or some type of scary motif.  Mores discusses many facts but focuses mostly on how Shelley’s life drama with birth, children, family and femininity formed the book and made it come to life.  

            The novel really changed the future of science fiction. According to Mores, “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, in 1818, made over the Gothic novel into what today we call science fiction.  ” (Pg.216 Paragraph 3)  When reading the novel a sense of uncomfortable insecurity really overwhelms one’s thoughts.  Victor Frankenstein clearly didn’t understand what he got himself into when creating this monster made of random, multiple corps.  As it came to life, Frankenstein became more and more scared of what is truly happening before his own eyes.  Although he never names the monster and eventually the monster starts to hurt and kill his creators loved ones.  The majority of this story is unreal and starts to stimulate the imagination.  

            The main part of “Frankenstein” focuses on things that happen on a day-to-day basis for both women and men in the early 1800’s.  Shelley brings a very gory birth into it all and portrays it on what could possibly be the truth of birth itself; or at least to what Shelley goes through.  Ellen really focuses on that in most of her critique, “For Frankenstein is a birth myth, and one that was lodged in the novelist’s imagination, I am convinced, by the fact that she was herself a mother.” (Pg, 216 Paragraph 3).  

Shelley’s novel was so different and unique of what most other women during that time wrote about.  The tension in the story line was so different from what everyone was used to.  It had opened eyes to a new way of gore with different twists of what comes across as pregnancy and birth.  Ellen states facts of how things used to be, “In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries very few important women writers, except for Mary Shelley, bore children; most of them, in England and America, were spinsters and virgins.  With the coming of Naturalism late in the century, and the lifting of the Victorian taboo against writing about physical sexuality (including pregnancy and labor).  ” (Pg, 217 Paragraph 1) Which brings back the fact that the novel “Frankenstein” was so focused on what Shelley was going through.  Convinced that Shelley probably had her fair share of problems with birth, life and death and quiet frankly it shows strongly throughout the storyline.  Once again Mores brought to life more meaning to the storyline saying, “Mary Shelley was a unique case, in literature as in life. She brought birth to fiction not as realism but as gothic fantasy, and thus contributed to Romanticism a myth of genuine originality. ” (Pg, 217 Paragraph 2)

Throughout the story one may question continuously what might this story relate to birth, life and at the same time a gory horror novel? It is simple Frankenstein creates this form of life, ugly, gigantic, nameless monster.  Frankenstein is in such shock and disgusted that he doesn’t even give the poor monster a name.  Therefore, the most heartless thing he could possibly do.  “Most of the novel, roughly two of its three volumes, can be said to deal with the retribution visited upon monster and creator for deficient infant care.  Frankenstein seems to be distinctly a woman’s mythmaking on the subject of birth precisely because its emphasis is not upon what precedes birth, not upon birth itself, but upon what follows birth: the trauma of the afterbirth. ” , Mores strongly states.  (Pg 218 Paragraph 1) It is nothing to fool with, birth and the reactions to it.  Shelley has her way of really morphing something that in real life is so scary and horrid and creating it in a different perspective; yet having the same scary, horrid feeling.   

In reality Shelley’s novel brings her own personal life into this Female gothic, horror story.  It boggles the mind thinking maybe; just maybe Shelley felt the same way when dealing with problems that really happened to her.  Mores has endless amounts of helpful facts and thoughts to really help ones imagination render the story into something so much more meaningful, “But more mundane is Mary Shelley’s concern with the emotions surrounding the parent-child and child-parent relationship. Here her intention to underline the birth myth in Frankenstein becomes most evident, quiet apart from biographical evidence about its author.” (Pg, 224 Paragraph 1) Life, death, heartbreak and denial affect the smallest details in a novel, bringing it to a remarkable horror story that will be forever known as “Frankenstein” .

WORKS CITED

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein: A Norton Critical Edition. ed. J. Paul Hunter. New York: W. W. Norton, 1996

Summarizing, Critical Response

       I chose to focus on Ellen Moers “Female Gothic: The monster’s Mother”. Her writing is from Moers’s Literary Women, in Garden City, Doubleday, 1976. In the story Ellen discusses what gothic was in the 1700’s when writing books. She talks about how Shelley relates the book Frankenstein a lot like having kids. Being pregnant and having a baby, is a lot like Frankenstein’s story. It looks like she wrote this because she felt strongly on how different Shelley’s horror story is compared to others around the same time. She talks about the relations to how Frankenstein creates this life and as soon as it’s “born” he is scared and abandons it. Some mother’s can relate, after having kids they have issues taking the baby and want to ignore the baby or worse kill themselves.

       I think the author did read it differently than how I did. I just read it as a sad story about a monster that just wants to be accepted and loved just like any other human. She took it as a person abandoning their child and took it to a new level that made me think so much harder than I wanted to. It made me realize that there really is this intense meaning of abandonment and how maybe an orphan feels. I definitely gained from Ellen’s perspective and actually makes me want to take on what she’s said and continue reading Frankenstein with that perspective. I will be using this with essay 3; I just have to figure out how to apply what I’ve learned.

Image source and link here

Revision, Revision, Revision....

My writing process for this essay was pretty simple. First off I started writing key things that I wish to have in my essay. Once I did that I got out a note book and started writing sentences and doing a rough outline of what I would like each of my paragraphs to be about. I then took my time to write my thesis and then followed my thesis with the beginning of my body. Once I wrote my paper I looked over it for anything that could be wrong or misspelled. Once I got my paper back from grading I went over it again to revise it. I don’t usually revise it usually I have a friend read it and give me hints or opinions on what I could change and then I change them in my own way. I revised my paper and found a few misspellings and changed them. I did notice I babbled a lot about “imagination” I then read all the babbles and altered them so they didn’t sound as blabby. My reasoning to not revising is that it takes time. It also adds frustration occasionally to me, to read sometimes I’ll look and be so confused and think to myself “What on earth was I thinking”. Honestly, I don’t really get the benefits of revising on my own. Sometimes having someone else revise it for you works better, in my case it does. The revisions I plan to make in my essay are pretty simple. Both Laura and friends who’ve looked at it have told me things that didn’t sit right with them. I had a few bumpy flowing sentences, so I will review them and then see what I can do to fix it. Also, I plan on changing the wording a little in some of my paragraphs so I don’t have words like “imagine” or similar words like “imaginary” in every other sentence.

Image source & link here!

Frankenstein

“Dear, sweet Elizabeth, do not weep. You ought to raise me with thoughts of a better life, and elevate me from the petty cares of this world of injustice and strife. Do not you, excellent friend, drive me to despair.”(Shelly page 56)

In the book “Frankenstein” By Mary Shelly, I have been having troubles retaining what I am reading. Though so far, I am not interested in the book it has yet to have chimed an interest. Occasionally I find myself looking in the dictionary to understand some of the ways he uses certain words, which I have used just not in the same exact way. I am trying hard to imagine myself in the book to play it as a movie in my head, not working. I have fortunately come to understandings so far that Walton seems to be somewhat depressed and going on a voyage to find something. On his journey he seems to find a monster and also, seems to have more trouble. I enjoyed the passage that I chose to share on this blog post. It seemed to have caught my attention more than anything else. Walton seems to be very close to his sister. In which I can relate to for once. I love my sister and if were to go on some sort of voyage across seas I would want to write to her most. Also, so far from reading I have felt some depression when reading, although I admit that I am in fact having issues understanding and putting myself in the story. Walton is unbelievably negative yet throws positive things in occasionally. So to sum it up so far the stories seem uninteresting and not exactly something I will completely enjoy reading.

Image source here.

First Draft: Essay 2

Madeline Simon

Cline

Essay #2

ENG 102

September 16, 2011

Fairy Tales

            The poem “Fairy-tale Logic” by A.E. Stallings stimulates the brain and creates a page-by-page imaginary book. Talking about fairy tales and how they are not always peachy keen. There is not always a happy ending to fairy tales; there is always a mystery or some type of goal to accomplish. When most people think of fairy tales they think queens, talking animals, princesses, ogres and fire breathing dragons that turn nice in the end. Not everyone sees the big picture, that a fairy tale can be harsh to the mind, be scary and not have a happily ever after. The poem “Fairy-tale Logic” reminds a person of that.  

            A.E. Stallings wrote her poem and made it very easy to read; yet leaving one confused and left to ponder. When reading any poem, starting off with a blank slate an empty minded outlook and open for anything that may come into thought is very important. Imagination is a huge part of poems and that either makes or breaks the poem or sometimes writer. The reader must take each line with huge importance while reading the poem. The imagery in the poem is very strong and easy to bring up into thought. In the poem “Fairy-tale Logic” the first line reads “Fairy tales are full of impossible tasks:” (Stallings Line 1) it immediately opens the reader up to think “Well, not really.” Which isn’t true, watch any movie or read any book that is considered a fairy tale. There is always some type of task to accomplish or in some cases fail at. The poem reads almost depressing; giving dark imaginary thoughts. If looking into a book the colors are cold and dark the pictures are jagged and rough. Reading on in the poem “Gather the gin of hairs of a man-eating goat, Or cross a sulphuric lake in a leaky boat, ” (Stallings lines 2-3) now the lines give the impression that some comedy is apart of a fairy tale, yet some despair that maybe that leaky boat might not make it, depression of the thoughts of death may be the end. The poem like mentioned earlier is nothing happy and when given the opportunity to be positive it gets shut down almost immediately with the next line.

            Most happy fairy tales have royalty and talking animals that live in real houses. Like the poem A.E. Stallings mentions “Select the prince from a row of identical masks, Tiptoe up to a dragon where it basks And snatch its bone; count dust specks, mote by mote,” (Stallings Lines 4-6) Reading it, imagining a handsome prince seeing the royal blue eyes though the holes in the mask he has laying over his face. It is so unbelievably important to read the lines thoroughly and keep the imaginative side of the brain going. Stallings brings a type of distress when reading for example, the royal blue eyes of the hidden prince, but the masks are all the same leaving one wondering and scared of the decision that has to be made. Crossing a dragon in happy fairy tales usually is scary at first then somehow the dragon falls in love with the horse the prince finds his princess and the journey home comes steadily but surely. Stallings has the attitude set to not so positive so reading it happy doesn’t exactly come to mind. The stress of crossing a dragon, snatching its bone sounds like a deadly game that could result in horrible outcomes.

            Continuing on in the poem reading, “You have to fight magic with magic. You have to believe that you have something impossible up your sleeve,” (Stallings Lines 9-10) what fairy tale doesn’t have magic? Whether it is an evil witch who has a magic apple that kills the princess or a fairy godmother that turns a pumpkin into a beautiful riding carriage with white horses. Stallings calls out on all the fairy tale stories and manages to get the reader imagining these tasks being dangerous and as the first line in the poem, impossible tasks.

            The whole idea of a fairy tale has to be impossible, that is what makes it a fairy tale in the first place. Fairy tales are stories that help an imagination grow. They have life lessons, meanings that one could relate to life experiences. For instance in the poem it reads “The will to do whatever must be done: Marry a monster. Hand over your firstborn son.” (Stallings Lines13-14). Now, anyone reading it could say it is just a fairy tale little do they know the last lines of this poem are the strongest and refer to life more than ever. Seeing a real person have to do what they have to get out of a situation that is deadly, having the will to do whatever it takes to get out of there. Marrying a person who later turns into a living nightmare, where in the situation, dreading to wake up in the morning to have hell served on a silver platter for breakfast. These lines have so many meanings and can have so many different outcomes. The strongest that hits is “Hand over your firstborn son.”(Stallings Line 14) Not one human living in the world would ever want to think of something so horrible. Now if Stallings had a more positive beginning to the poem the thoughts would be so much more becoming and happily ever after feelings.

            A.E. Stallings captures the reader and creates the imagination to flow with what she writes. Fairy tales are no baseball game; fairy tales are definitely something easily misunderstood. They are scary, full of excitement and tasks only a fairy tale would have. Given the situations Stallings expresses thoughts of fairy tales and they aren’t happy feelings she seems to have a negative outlook leaving the reader somewhat in the dust. Even though the poem is short and simple it has depth and meaning behind every single line. It makes one wonder how the poem could have gone if Stallings wrote the poem with a tad of positive thoughts.

WORKS CITED:

Stallings, A.E. “Fairy-tale Logic” from  Poetry March 2010

 September 16, 2011 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poem/238826

Just wanted to make sure my MLA format is proper.

Fairy-tale Logic, by A.E. Stallings

     I chose to discuss the poem Fairy Tale Logic by A.E. Stallings. This poem got my attention with its name. I’ve always have loved fairy tales and have wanted a fairy tale life, like most girls. I had to read this poem a few times before I actually understood it and got the meanings. While I was reading it I felt some type of a disappointment. The end surprised me when she said “The will to do whatever must be done: Marry a monster. Hand over your firstborn son.”(Stallings, lines 13,14) That particular line definitely threw me off made me think about it a lot.  Most fairy tales end so perfect and beautiful. But when you come across a fairy tale that doesn’t end like all the others it makes you think. Well is it a fairy tale? The answer would be yes, just because the princess doesn’t get picked up and saved by the prince the story still has monsters and things that not most “typical” stories. Throughout the poem you are reading it finding yourself nodding your head, yes, yes. When you read it the second time you start to realize what she could be going for. Fairy tales aren’t so peachy keen after all. There’s always a distressed woman and there’s always some type of obstacle that either the prince has to overcome or both, prince and princess have to take it on.  In the poem fifth line down A.E. writes, “Tiptoe up to a dragon where it basks And snatch it’s bone;”(Stallings, lines 5,6) When I read that I immediately thought of the movie “Shreck” got all smiley and then continued to read. The poem really has a good meaning. She’s not technically talking down on fairy tales mainly, she’s just making an observation of how not all fairy tales are so wonderful and easy going.

     There doesn’t seem to be any particular addressee. It does seem to be A.E. as the speaker. The main thing that gives it away is that this poem seems to be more of a personal observation/thoughts. The tone of the poem seems to be slight frustration. What makes me think that is where she opens the poem with “Fairy tales are full of impossible tasks.” 

Works Cited:

Stallings, A.E. “Fairy-tale Logic”. Poetry. March 2010, Web. Sept 7 2011.

Image from: Here

Summerizing and Analysis

         What I got from the lecture on summary and analysis is that they can be easily mixed up. What I have learned about summary is that it basically explains what has happened in the reading, movie or whatever it is that you are summarizing. Ways you can tell if you are summarizing is when you are stating things that have happened like for instance in “Winnie The Pooh” by A. A. Milne. “Pooh Bear is always hungry for honey, and usually gets himself into some type of trouble or disagreement.” I mean it’s not the entire storyboard but it explains the main plot in most of the stories you read in the book. Also you could be describing something that happened, like “Pooh Bear ran into Rabbit and Rabbit was being grumpy and rude.” Other ways are simple to notice weak verbs like “is” or “about”. In a summary you inform the person about what they are about to read/watch or what they have already known.

         Analysis is when you take apart pieces of the reading/video and examining them and paying deep attention to each character or other element. It’s also like close reading, where you look between the lines. You want to criticize every important detail. There are a few types of criticizing, new criticism, political criticism, historical criticism and analysis criticism. So for example in “Winnie the Pooh” for analysis I could say, “In every Winnie the Pooh story, Eeyore has his house fall apart because he is negative to everything and everyone around him.” That could be true but not entirely. Someone could easily argue with me saying that it isn’t because he is negative; it’s just bad luck. Things you can look at when you are analyzing could be relationships, trends, consequences, causes, effects, strengths and weaknesses.

This was the first thing that I found when looking for further examples of summarizing and analysis here. I found it somewhat helpful. Although I enjoyed the lecture, it was much more helpful. I don't feel like I understand completely but I think I have a decent grasp on it. The site where I found my image is here.