Part 1: Thinking and Writing
The Scarlet Letter essay- In this essay I was trying to compare Pearl to the Scarlet letter itself, and also to the theme of the novel. The main idea in this piece was that Pearl was a living example of the scarlet letter. Doing this essay gave me a deeper insight towards the novel. It taught me to think deeper.
Nature Walk essay- My purpose of this essay was to compare and contrast my view of nature with writers Emerson and Thoreau. I liked this essay because we could just free write. Writing this essay made me think about transcendentalism and what the transcedentalists believe.
Connections-
Brush strokes have helped me a lot.
Also when you told us to just write to get our thoughts flowing...that helped me to think about what I wanted to write and say.
The brain storming techniques were very useful.
Part 2: Process of Revision
I did many things to revise my pieces. I edited my Nature Walk piece so that some of the paragraphs didn't start with a quote. I also edited it by adding a stronger conclusion.
In my Scarlet letter piece, I added how I thought Pearl Prynne is related to the theme of the novel. I elaborated more with the quotes and talked more about them.
Part 3: Learning from your Classmates
One of the things I would like to be able to do better, is relate things to one another in a smooth way. Aimee did this very well.
Another thing I thought was very important that I learned was the brushstroke techniques. Natalie's brushstrokes were very good.
The last thing that I think is important is shown many times in Jessica's work. I LOVE the way she used personification, metaphors, and similes. She made them flow with the rest of her piece. She made them seem effortless. I strive to do this in my work.
All of these things I've listed make your pieces so much better. they make them come alive and stand out. That is why I think they are the most important.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
The Scarlet Letter
Pearl Prynne is often known as the “elf child” or the “devil child” in the book The Scarlet letter, but in actuality she is a living symbol of the scarlet letter itself. Pearl is a reminder to her mother that she is an outcast, adulterer and most importantly a sinner. Pearl forces Hester to accept their sins. The puritan society also looks down on Pearl just as they do the scarlet letter because they know that because of sin, Pearl was born.
Pearl is the only thing Hester Prynne has in her life. Hester says in the book that Pearl is her living scarlet letter, and causes her more pain than the scarlet letter itself. "He gave her, in requital of all things else, which ye had taken from me. She is my happiness! She is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter, only capable of being loved and so endowed with a million-fold the power of retribution for my sin?"(Hawthorne101).
As well as being the only thing in Hester's life, she gives her a significant name. Hester gives Pearl her name because she is referring to the pearl of great price. The reason she is referring to this is because, like the man who sold everything he had to buy the pearl, Hester ends up losing everything she had when she has Pearl. Hester loses her dignity, her respect, and basically everything else. She gains Pearl and the scarlet letter. Hester refers to Pearl as her treasure. “But she named the infant “Pearl,” as being of great price,---purchased with all she had,--her mother’s only treasure!” (Hawthorne, 80).
Like the scarlet letter, Pearl is looked down on by the Puritan society. The children often throw rocks at her and call her names. Pearl is a child full of beauty and sin. She is elaborately dressed, much like the scarlet letter. The puritan people see her beauty and they fear it. "So magnificent was the small figure, when thus arrayed, and such was the splendor of Pearl's own proper beauty, shining through the gorgeous robes which might have extinguished a paler loveliness, that there was an absolute circle of radiance around her on the dark-some cottage-floor...She could recognize her wild, desperate, defiant mood, the flightiness of her temper, and even some of the very cloud-shapes of gloom and despondency that had brooded in her heart. They were now illuminated by the morning radiance of a young child's disposition..."(Hawthorne, 81). The people are also bewildered and also almost put in a trance by Pearl, much like the scarlet letter; "Heart smitten at this bewildering and baffling spell..." (Hawthorne, 83).
Even though Pearl is a beautiful, vivacious child, she forces her mother to realize every day that she is a sinner. Pearl also is looked down on by her town and the puritan society. Pearl takes it well though; she doesn't seem to care what people think about her. I admire that about Pearl. She takes something bad about her situation and turns it out for good. Pearl is related to the theme of The Scarlet Letter because she shows that bad things can turn out for good, just like Hester's sin turned out for good (Pearl).
Pearl is the only thing Hester Prynne has in her life. Hester says in the book that Pearl is her living scarlet letter, and causes her more pain than the scarlet letter itself. "He gave her, in requital of all things else, which ye had taken from me. She is my happiness! She is my torture, none the less! Pearl keeps me here in life! Pearl punishes me too! See ye not, she is the scarlet letter, only capable of being loved and so endowed with a million-fold the power of retribution for my sin?"(Hawthorne101).
As well as being the only thing in Hester's life, she gives her a significant name. Hester gives Pearl her name because she is referring to the pearl of great price. The reason she is referring to this is because, like the man who sold everything he had to buy the pearl, Hester ends up losing everything she had when she has Pearl. Hester loses her dignity, her respect, and basically everything else. She gains Pearl and the scarlet letter. Hester refers to Pearl as her treasure. “But she named the infant “Pearl,” as being of great price,---purchased with all she had,--her mother’s only treasure!” (Hawthorne, 80).
Like the scarlet letter, Pearl is looked down on by the Puritan society. The children often throw rocks at her and call her names. Pearl is a child full of beauty and sin. She is elaborately dressed, much like the scarlet letter. The puritan people see her beauty and they fear it. "So magnificent was the small figure, when thus arrayed, and such was the splendor of Pearl's own proper beauty, shining through the gorgeous robes which might have extinguished a paler loveliness, that there was an absolute circle of radiance around her on the dark-some cottage-floor...She could recognize her wild, desperate, defiant mood, the flightiness of her temper, and even some of the very cloud-shapes of gloom and despondency that had brooded in her heart. They were now illuminated by the morning radiance of a young child's disposition..."(Hawthorne, 81). The people are also bewildered and also almost put in a trance by Pearl, much like the scarlet letter; "Heart smitten at this bewildering and baffling spell..." (Hawthorne, 83).
Even though Pearl is a beautiful, vivacious child, she forces her mother to realize every day that she is a sinner. Pearl also is looked down on by her town and the puritan society. Pearl takes it well though; she doesn't seem to care what people think about her. I admire that about Pearl. She takes something bad about her situation and turns it out for good. Pearl is related to the theme of The Scarlet Letter because she shows that bad things can turn out for good, just like Hester's sin turned out for good (Pearl).
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Nature Essay
I've never expected that a peaceful walk through the woods to turn into me cringing in pain because I just stepped in a briar patch roughly the size of my head. My walk in the woods was a disaster. Ralph Waldo Emerson said that "nature never wears a mean appearance". Well I'm sorry Mr. Emerson but I have to disagree with you. Nature did not look very kindly on me. I expected this experience to be enlightening, peaceful, and serene. I think I was a little too optimistic.
The moment I got outside I started sweating. We are well into the month of October, and I remember thinking to myself "why the heck is it so hot out here? It's been fall for over 3 weeks!". The sun had no mercy on us though as it casted off what seemed like all the heat it possibly could. Outside it smelled like freshly cut grass, and car exhaust fumes because the woods was right next to the busy traffic of highway 81. Let me inform you it was not a pleasant smell. When I stepped into the woods all I saw at first was objects and climbing walls that the JROTC use on a regular basis. They weren't very pretty, in fact to me they stuck out like a sore thumb. I didn't care about the JROTC stuff though I was just glad that it was about 10 degrees cooler. The temperature change was the highlight of my "great outdoor experience". As I started walking I heard a crunch crunch crunch under my feet. At first I thought it was leaves, branches, logs and other things of nature. I was surprised when I looked down to see beer cans. I then understood why some people love the woods so much. I also saw Mountain dew bottles, Pepsi cans and chip bags. Nature reminded me of a trash dump.
Emerson once said, "When we speak of nature in this manner, we have a distinct but most poetical sense in the mind". When I first thought of nature I thought the same thing. I thought "oh how great it would be to go out into the woods and look at the beauty and peacefulness of it". After this experience though I have to disagree. Emerson also said " In the wilderness I find something more dear and connate than in streets or village". I also have to disagree with him there too. I would much rather be in town in the middle of things than stranded out in the woods by myself. I love the convenience of the local Walmart. I love the sounds of people and the sights of buildings. I mean don't get me wrong, I would hate it if all there was was buildings and roads. I like the scenery of trees and nature. I just like to enjoy it all from afar.
Henry David Thoreau said once upon a time, "It is error upon error, and clout upon clout upon clout and our best virtue has for its occasion and superfluous and evitable wretchedness. Our life is frittered away by detail....Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!" This quote is in my opinion completely true. I do believe that our lives are too complex these days. I also believe that our lives are extremely hectic and we should all take some time to smell the flowers. I think that nature is a good thing, just not for me. The simplicity of nature is good but society and city life is more suited for me.
To put it plainly, I did not enjoy the nature walk. I don't think I wouldn't enjoy nature though, if I was in a different place. Maybe if I was in the mountains, or at the beach, I would love nature more. I think God gave us trees, and grass, and flowers to enjoy. I think he also put all this stuff here to help us. I just don't think I had the right experience. Maybe I'll try this whole nature thing another time. A time when it isn't one hundred and ten degrees outside, and when beer cans don't clutter the ground.
The moment I got outside I started sweating. We are well into the month of October, and I remember thinking to myself "why the heck is it so hot out here? It's been fall for over 3 weeks!". The sun had no mercy on us though as it casted off what seemed like all the heat it possibly could. Outside it smelled like freshly cut grass, and car exhaust fumes because the woods was right next to the busy traffic of highway 81. Let me inform you it was not a pleasant smell. When I stepped into the woods all I saw at first was objects and climbing walls that the JROTC use on a regular basis. They weren't very pretty, in fact to me they stuck out like a sore thumb. I didn't care about the JROTC stuff though I was just glad that it was about 10 degrees cooler. The temperature change was the highlight of my "great outdoor experience". As I started walking I heard a crunch crunch crunch under my feet. At first I thought it was leaves, branches, logs and other things of nature. I was surprised when I looked down to see beer cans. I then understood why some people love the woods so much. I also saw Mountain dew bottles, Pepsi cans and chip bags. Nature reminded me of a trash dump.
Emerson once said, "When we speak of nature in this manner, we have a distinct but most poetical sense in the mind". When I first thought of nature I thought the same thing. I thought "oh how great it would be to go out into the woods and look at the beauty and peacefulness of it". After this experience though I have to disagree. Emerson also said " In the wilderness I find something more dear and connate than in streets or village". I also have to disagree with him there too. I would much rather be in town in the middle of things than stranded out in the woods by myself. I love the convenience of the local Walmart. I love the sounds of people and the sights of buildings. I mean don't get me wrong, I would hate it if all there was was buildings and roads. I like the scenery of trees and nature. I just like to enjoy it all from afar.
Henry David Thoreau said once upon a time, "It is error upon error, and clout upon clout upon clout and our best virtue has for its occasion and superfluous and evitable wretchedness. Our life is frittered away by detail....Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!" This quote is in my opinion completely true. I do believe that our lives are too complex these days. I also believe that our lives are extremely hectic and we should all take some time to smell the flowers. I think that nature is a good thing, just not for me. The simplicity of nature is good but society and city life is more suited for me.
To put it plainly, I did not enjoy the nature walk. I don't think I wouldn't enjoy nature though, if I was in a different place. Maybe if I was in the mountains, or at the beach, I would love nature more. I think God gave us trees, and grass, and flowers to enjoy. I think he also put all this stuff here to help us. I just don't think I had the right experience. Maybe I'll try this whole nature thing another time. A time when it isn't one hundred and ten degrees outside, and when beer cans don't clutter the ground.
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