Journal 21 - Some Like It Hot and The Great Gatsby Comparison/Contrast

Some Like It Hot and The Great Gatsby both focus on the culture of affluence. The underlying theme of both works is money and indulgence. Both have character that drink and smoke. Characters are also having affairs in The Great Gatsby and are getting married and divorced multiple times in Some Like It Hot. In Some Like It Hot, girls are attracted to wealthy millionaires. Sugar fell in love with Joe because she thought he was a wealthy oil tycoon. In Gatsby, Daisy fell for Tom because of his wealth. Both works also address conflict with the law during prohibition. Gatsby was selling alcohol in his drug store under the counter and the gangsters were running liquor illegally. Both works include woman that are flappers and who drink. Gatsby has lavish parties with the music of the day and Joe and Jerry are musician in speak easies. The characters are also characterized as shallow; however, more so in Gatsby. They are only after trivial things in life. The characters are also struggling to find love in both of the works. The works are different in that both characters find love in Some Like It Hot and Gatsby looses his love. Some Like It Hot is also far more comical than Gatsby and has a more jubilant ending. Asgood is like Tom because they both are born into wealth. The criminals in both works, Gatsby and Spats, are killed in the end. 

Journal 20 – The Great Gatsby Conclusion

Nick uses the imagery of Gatsby’s parties and talks about how they will never again fill his house. The party is finally over for Gatsby and everyone has left. Nick headed into a new world with the shore melting away around him. The green light is a visual symbol of hope for Gatsby and is similar to the green land that the Dutch sailors first came across. In the end, the green beacon’s light was as intangible as Gatsby's dream. The green light was as bright and enthralling as Long island was when the Dutch sailors found it. The continent enchanted the Dutch explorers and was filled with their hopes and dreams just like the green light enchanted Gatsby. Gatsby reached as far as he could, but like the sailors, his dream eluded him and remained out of reach. We push forward towards our dreams but are only dragged back into the past.  

Journal #19

Nick Carraway Adjective __open-minded___

Nick is a young man from the mid-west. He doesn’t specifically describe his physical appearance. He is tolerant and tries not to judge those around him. He is also quiet, overly polite, and reserved. He had just moved to west egg to work in the bond business. He meets up with his cousin and her husband and has dinner with them. He tries to reserve his judgment on Gatsby.

Characterization in Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby

Tom Buchanan Adjective _____arrogant_____

Tom is well built and highly muscled. He has a gruff voice and his body language seems aggressive. He talks about a book called The Rise of the Colored Empires and raves about how black and white blood lines need to be kept separate. He openly endorses racism and even leaves dinner for a phone call with his supposed lover.

Daisy Buchanan Adjective ___charming__

Daisy is lounging on the couch with Jordan and they are both wearing dresses. She has a charming laugh and seems happy to see Tom. She had dinner with Nick and and wants him to date Jordan. She fell in love with wealth and seems shallow and easily bored.

Jordan Baker Adjective ___self-centered____

She is a slim attractive girl with an erect carriage. She plays in golf tournaments frequently. She is polite but seems distant. She is in the midst of trying to balance something when Nick meets her and only vaguely acknowledges him.

Jay Gatsby Adjective ___fixated_____

Gatsby is everything that Nick scorns. He is wealthy and flamboyant. He is only briefly described in the first chapter when he is staring at the light on Daisy dock. He has dedicated his life to win her back and she became his goal for becoming wealthy.

Journal #18

“In Another Country”

1. What is the significance of the story’s title?
The narrator is an injured American WWII survivor who is getting therapy in Italy. He is literally in another country and he is alienated because he is not Italian. The officers are in another country because they are alienated in the communist quarter even though they are Italian. The bond between all these men was because they were injured and are isolated. The narrator was injured accidentally and his accommodation wasn’t as sincere as the others who showed bravery in order to get their medals.

2. Which character do you think best represents the “Hemingway hero”? Why?
The Hemingway hero is characterized with stoicism and is someone who suffers with grace and dignity. The major is the Hemmingway hero because he is suffering the personal loss of his wife along with his hand injury. The major’s physical injury will keep him from ever fencing again. The major was a lot fencer and his hand will keep him from doing that. The major is the character who is suffering the most. The major feels like the machines will not make a difference. He understood that defeat is inevitable that that you need to hold onto things that are permanent.


3. What can you infer about the photographs the doctor hangs up? What is the significance of the major’s reaction?
The photos can be inferred to be fake because the soldiers are the 1st ones to use the machines. They are more of a motivational ploy for the soldiers. The major refused to look at them and stared out the window. He later gave up on the machines and walked out.

Journal 17

“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”

1. What is the significance of the poem’s epigraph? How does it relate to Prufrock?

The epigraph is from Dante’s Inferno. Dante is saying that he is unafraid to tell his story because no one has ever come back from hell. No one can say that he is wrong or can disgrace him. The epigraph relates to Prufrock because his story includes his private thoughts. Prufrock’s story is not meant for a wide audience because he is so self-conscious. There is a certain level of privacy like in Dante’s Inferno because both works are not meant to be judged by the public. No one else had insight into their particular work.

2. Make a list of questions that Prufrock asks. Do you see a pattern/theme to these questions or are they random?

He asks: What is it? Do I dare? So how should I presume? Should I, after tea and cakes and ices, have the strength to force the moment to its crisis? Shall I part my hair behind? The questions are not random and all show Prufrock’s hesitation. His questioning shows a theme of uncertainty and fear. Prufrock is very self–conscience and that shows up in all of his questions as well. He is not sure if he should do one thing or another and even trivial worries eat away at him. There is also a pattern of repetition in many of his questions. This repetition shows his anxiety about what is to come later in his life.

3. What do you think is Prufrock’s main flaw/problem?

His main flaw is his character because he is constantly worrying. He is uncertain about himself and his decisions. He is incredibly self-conscience and doesn’t want to be judged by others. He is a minor character in his world and does nothing of great importance. He also never experiences love in his life and is preoccupied with his worries.

4. Why do you think this is called a love song? In what way is it a love song?

The story is called a love song even though it is about the absence of love. This title is completely ironic because there isn’t love in it at all. You have a feeling of pathos for the character because he doesn’t have love in his life. This is not a love song but more of a song of sadness that is following the flow of Prufrock’s thoughts and worries.

Journal #16

Crane’s “The Blue Hotel” and London’s “To Build A Fire”

In Crane’s “The Blue Hotel”, the Swede proves that a combination of character and social conditions can lead to a predetermined ending. The Swede thinks that he is in the Wild West when he enters the hotel because he was influenced by too many dime novels. He is mentally unstable and declares that he will die in this hotel like so many other people have, although no one has died in that hotel. The inn keeper gives that man something to drink in order to calm him down. The Swede became belligerent and was unable to handle alcohol well. This character trait was the determining factor that leads to his death. Because the Swede was unstable, he gets into a fight with Johnny and is convinced that everyone is siding against him. The social environment, were the Swede thinks he is, adds to his hysteria. After beating Johnny, the Swede becomes even more quarrelsome and berates a stranger who enters. The Swede was stabbed and died just as fate had predicted. This is a perfect example of a self-fulfilling prophesy which takes his free will out of the equation.

In London’s “To Build a Fire”, the man is a victim of fate and the environment. He is determined to get back to his boys and ignores all the advice from the old timer. The old timer told him not to go out when it is 50 below or colder. The man’s character leads him to risk his life in order to get back to his camp. The dog’s instincts tell it that extreme cold is dangerous but the man’s doesn’t. The man is ignorant to this environment and that leads to his death. He ignores the dangers around him and becomes too numb to even start a fire. His free will was only an illusion. After entering into that environment woefully unprepared, his death was inevitable. The man was unable to exercise any pull over his destiny because fate had already determined his path.

Journal #15

1. Write a sentence that summarizes the story’s overall message, and provide three direct quotes from the story that best illustrate this message.

The message is that living in the ideal instead of the real world, like Editha does, can be a dangerous thing.

“It isn’t this war alone; though this seems peculiarly wanton and needless; but it’s every war –so stupid; it makes me sick. Why shouldn’t this thing have been settled reasonably?”

“He told me he had asked you to come if he got killed. You didn’t expect that, I suppose, when you sent him.”

“You thought it would be all right for my George, your George, to kill the sons of those miserable mothers and husbands of those girls that you would never see that faces of

2. What tactics does Editha use to make George believe as she does about the war?

Editha tries to argue with George and she makes it known that her opinion is the right one. She tells him that it is a holy war ordained by providence. She makes George doubts himself and writes him a letter with her engagement ring enclosed. She was pushing, threatening, and compelling him to go to war. She writes that there is no honor greater than serving America and that they need to agree in everything in order to be together. She tells George that he needs to think it over and come back to her if he decides to go to war. Her persuasion works in the end and he is compelled to join with the town and go to war.

3. Is there ever a time in which Editha truly understands what she has done? Does she ever experience an epiphany?

Editha has a slight understanding of what she was done after she finds out that George has died. She mourns his loss and visits George’s mother like he asked. Editha is scorned for sending him to war. Mrs. Gearson said that Editha didn’t expect him to die when she sent him, but it is still her fault. She doesn’t truly understand her actions. She has an epiphany at the end that brings her back into her ideal world. The lady, who Editha was telling her story to, agreed that Mrs. Gearson was vulgar for saying those things. Editha rose out of self-pity and began to live in the ideal again.

Journal #14

“Richard Cory“ (497)

Richard is viewed by the people in town as a perfect man. He was a gentleman who all the people looked up to and admired. He was schooled in every grace and very rich as well. It is ironic because he seemed to have a perfect life but kills himself in the end. His life isn’t really that perfect because he shoots himself in the head. He has some major problems which can’t be seem from the outside. A major theme is that you can’t judge people by their appearance. Also, money can’t buy you happiness. His name sounds like rich core. This is contrasting his real life to his ideal life which seems perfect. He is really rich on the outside but poor on the inside.

“Miniver Cheevy” (497)

Miniver wishes that he was born in another time. He is a fan of romance stories and knights. He loved the days when people had swords and rode horses. He wanted an ideal life but he got what was real so he became a drunk. He wanted his life to be like the lives in adventure stories. He cursed his life and missed what was in front of him. His life is empty and he escapes into these stories His name sounds like minimal achiever.

“Mr. Flood’s Party” (498)

Flood is having a part by himself which is not what a party is meant to be. He is old and all his friends are gone. He drinks so that he can have friends in himself. When he is drunk, he can talk to himself and have a party with himself. He drinks for times gone by and he is living in his past. He is trying to live his ideal life through drinking and remembering the past. The reality is that he is just a lonely drunk.

Journal #13

Edgar Lee Masters Epitaphs

1. What object symbolizes George Gray’s life? How is this object representative of him?

Gray’s life is symbolized by a boat with a furled sail resting in a harbor. This is similar to Gray’s life because he dreaded taking chances. He wanted to try and find meaning to life but never did anything about it. He is like a boat that wants to go out into the sea but is afraid. The boat with a furled sail is unable to leave the harbor just like Gray is unable to follow his ambitions. Gray should not have let sorrow and fears control and tournament him. This was all about how he lived his life in fear.

2. How was Lucinda Matlock’s life different than George Gray’s? How do you interpret the last line of the poem?

Matlock’s life is filled with excitement and love unlike Gray’s life. Gray was scared to go out and live life and was tormented by his ambition. Matlock lived a long and full life with her husband and children. She celebrated life but lost many of her children. She did all that she wanted to do and didn’t let the bad parts bother her. Gray never married, never had kids, and didn’t build relationships with friends. Gray regretted that he never lived but Matlock got a lot out of life because she invested more into it. In the last line of the poem, Matlock decided that it takes life in order to love Life. You need to experience the good and the bad in order to enjoy Life.

3. How are “George Gray” and “Lucinda Matlock” examples of realism?

The epitaphs are about Middle class people’s lives. They aren’t about heroic people but just about how ordinary people live and the everyday things that they did. Both of them are detailed and in depth but lacking emotion.

Journal #12

1. “Young Goodman Brown” is an allegory (symbolic narrative). What do the following represent?

Young Goodman Brown – transition from good to evil as a result of experience in the woods and the loss of faith

Faith – faith in God and others

The Elderly Traveller/Fellow-Traveller – the devil and evil

Goody Cloyse – corruption; a seemingly virtuous person who is actually in league with the devil

The Ceremony – sinful nature of people

The Pink Ribbon – the loss of faith and visual proof of a world filled with sin

Young Goodman Brown’s Journey – seeing the world as it truly is and the transition from innocence to experience of good and evil

2. Identify the following for “Young Goodman Brown”:

Theme Message of Theme Element Used to Establish

Theme: Sin/ evil

Message: The world is influenced and controlled by sin; everyone is tempted by sin and will eventually give into it.

Element: Characterization

In addition, provide three direct quotes from the story that address your theme.

“What if a wretched old woman do choose to go to the devil when I thought she was going to heaven:”

“There is no good on earth; and sin is but a name. Come, devil; for to thee is this world given.”

“Evil is the nature of mankind. Evil must be your only happiness.”

Journal 11

Selections from Walden

“Where I Lived and What I Lived For” (232)

It is about a man who lives in the woods and finds out that the best way to live is to live simply. He builds a cabin and lives by a pond for water. The main point is to live life only with the essentials needed. He was trying to live out the transcendentalist ideas of Emerson.

Quote: “to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms.”

“Sounds” (234)

The narrorator simply sits and listens to the sounds all around him. He talks about how people go to the movies and do other things for their amusement and to distract themselves. He sits outside his cabin and listens to the noises all day. He is amused by the sounds in nature and doesn’t need anything else to entertain himself.

Quote: “I had this advantage, at least in my mode of life, over those who were obligated to look abroad for amusement, to society and the theater, that my life itself has become my amusement and never ceased to be novel”

“Brute Neighbors” (235)

There is a war between the larger black ants and the more numerous red ants. The ants are fighting with the ferocity of humans and the tenacity of a bulldog. The ants are being compared to Greek epic heroes in the midst of an all-out war. The carnage of this battle is similar to the losses of battles in the American Revolution. Ants experience just as much hardship as human and celebrate just like we do.

Quote: “I was surprised to find that the chips were covered with such combatants that is was not a duellum, but a bellum, a war between two races of ants, the red always pitted against the black, and frequently two red ones to one black.”

“The Pond in Winter” (237)

The speaker wakes up from a dream and wonders what life is all about. He watches all the fishermen in winter and how they live simply. The fishermen have a close connection to the land and are in touch with nature. The main point is that nature is simple; we need to go out and live simple as well.

Quote: “But there was dawning Nature, in whom all creatures live, looking in at my broad windows with serene and satisfied face, and no question on her lips.”

“Spring” (238)

With the beginning of spring, everything is starting to move and change. Nature is starting to renew himself. He talks of an old wise man whose knowledge, the narrator will never match. In this wonderful time death cannot take its toll.

Quote: “As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.”

Journal #10

Othello’s Insight

At the end of the play, Othello had a moment of revelation when everything he did came into focus. Othello realized that he had been deceived into killing the woman that he loved. He didn’t want to be remembered as the man who killed his loving wife, but as a soldier who honorable served Venice. He threw away the one thing that was most valuable to him, Desdemona. He didn’t understand how well she loved and how pure she truly was until he lost her. Othello was taken over by his emotions and didn't think the situation through. Othello killed himself after this speech because he couldn’t live with the damage he had done. He took the honorable way out so that he could be remembered for the good services he performed for the state and not for the atrocity he just committed.

Journal #9 - Free Will vs. Determinism

In Othello many character advocate that free will is the only force present. All people have the power to control their destiny. Life if filled with choices and we are free to pick any of the innumerable paths in front of us. Iago explains to Rodrigo, “Virtue! a fig! 'tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners” (1.3 361-3). The quote illustrates that you reap what you sow. Everything that happens to you is because of free will. Iago later says, “when this advice is free I give and honest, probable to thinking and indeed the course to win the Moor again” (2.3.357-9). The people Iago councils have the choice to follow his advice or not. He gives good advice about what the best course of action would be but only intends to ensnare the victims who chose to follow it. Despite his Free will, Iago fails to succeed in the end.

In Othello is seems that many of the actions are a result of environmental influences that are working independently from free will. Iago warns Othello, “Beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green eyed Monster…” (3.3.195-96). This suggests that the genetic inclination towards jealousy influences characters like Othello. Othello is overcome by jealousy and can’t control himself. Othello had the free will not to fall prey to these outside forces but it was inevitable. The path was already laid out for Othello and he was helpless not to follow it. Iago also says, “When devils will, the blackest sins put on, they do suggest at first with heavenly shows” (2.3.370-71). This also shows that environmental influences can be subtle and appear good, but they can lead you down the wrong pay. Othello was lead down the pay he believed fate destined for him.

Journal #8

Emerson’s Aphorisms

5. To be great is to be misunderstood.

The aphorism is trying to make the point that being misunderstood is part of being great. If you are great then there are people less great than yourself. The people who think you are great with not understand how you are higher than themselves. You will have knowledge and ideas beyond that of the average person. I agree with this opinion and think it is closely tied with Emerson’s love of the instinctual part of man. You need to be in touch with part of your brain other than logic, reason, and past experience in order to be great. You have to think outside the box and come up with new and interesting ways of solving problems.

8. In skating over thin ice, our safety is in our speed.

The aphorism is trying to make the point that when you are in a dangerous position, you don’t want to walk slowly because you could fall into trouble. You want to get away from the thin ice as quickly as possible. This links back to Emerson’s belief that you should go through your life without stopping and analyzing everything you do. I agree with this position because if you took your time and went through life slowly, then you wouldn’t get far. It would be much easier to rush past the trouble and get on with your life. Live your life on instinct and get in touch with the deeper part of yourself.

13. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.

The aphorism makes the point that life has an infinite number of results and possibilities. It is almost impossible to tell what the result will be. You may fail or succeed in your life. I agree that life is an experiment. You are trying out something new and uncertain of the result. After the experiment is completed, you have a larger picture of how life works. If you continue experimenting, then you will learn more and more. I think that all life is one experiment after another. You are like a scientist trying to see what will work to solve each problem that you are confronted with. Anything could happen and anything will happen.

Journal #7

William Cullen Bryant’s “To a Waterfowl” (p.151) and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” (p.181)

In Bryant’s “To a Waterfowl,” the classical views of nature are clearly clashing with romantic views of nature given by Poe in “The Raven.” Bryant writes about a calm and tranquil scene at sunset. He writes about the solitary bird that is guided across the vast sky. Bryant wonders if “there is a power whose care teaches thy way along that pathless coast.” The poem is calm and orderly. The poem takes place at sunset and is meant to be peaceful. As Bryant concludes, he ponders the lesson that the bird is teaching him. Bryant says that the same power that guides the bird to its summer home will “lead my steps aright.” The poem is very logical and rational. It’s not openly religious but it alludes to it. He uses a plain style of writing that is easy to read. The tone is happy and calming which reflects Bryant's view of nature. The poem is also is trying to convey a deeper lesson to the reader. The classical view is that nature is something to observe and meditate on.

Poe writes using a romantic view of nature. His poem is imaginative and spontaneous. He has a clear rhythm throughout the lines that is often dropped and picked up in the next stanza. The poem is very emotional. The tone is dark and depressing, just like the way Poe views nature. Poe's poem is very ornate and not as easy to understand. The rhythm and repetition are unique to this poem. It helps to create the gloomy mood. The poem is suspenseful and builds up to the point when Poe comes across the raven. It takes place “once upon a midnight dreary, while [he] pondered, weak and weary.” The setting is a lot darker and more mysterious than Bryant’s poem. Poe talks about how he lost his love, Lenore. He is not in a stable state, so when the raven appears he takes it as a sign. He heard tapping at his window and opens it up. Poe says that the raven flew in and “perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door.” This sign was meant to convey wisdom and is more subjective than Bryant’s poem.

Poe is looking for solace from the raven but when asked if he will be united with Lenore again, the raven croaks “Nevermore.” That is the bird’s response to all his questions and it makes Poe even more saddened and depressed than he was before. He is constantly calling the bird a demon and wants it to leave his room. The poem is irrational and it doesn’t make sense that a raven would be talking to him. Bryant ends his poem feeling better about life but Poe ends feeling more depressed than before. The poems are both dealing with birds but Bryant's poem is more calming. Poe writes in a darker form of romanticism. Both poems are written in 1st person. Poe's raven is viewed as a demon but Bryan's bird is a divine messenger. The characteristics reflected on the birds reflects their view of nature.

Journal #6

From Ben Franklin’s The Autobiography

1. Explain what was involved in Franklin’s plan for self-perfection? What conclusion did Franklin come to regarding the effectiveness of this plan?

Franklin conceived his plan for self-perfection after devising a project to achieve moral perfection. He conceived 13 virtues that he believed to be necessary or desirable. He planned to acquire one virtue at a time and use the virtues that he achieved1st to aid in acquiring others. The next virtue builds on the ones already in place. Franklin’s 1^st virtue was temperance and that made all the others easier to achieve. He marked his progress in a little book and after going a week without breaking the virtue, he could move on to the next.

It took Franklin years to get all of the virtues in place because of interference from business and travel. Franklin concluded that no one can get read of all their faults and that a perfect character would only lead you to be envied and hated. A benevolent man should have a couple faults. He found himself much happier after attempting to acquire all the virtues even though he didn't achieve perfection. He did get some of the virtues in place despite struggling through others.

2. Do you feel that a plan such as Franklin’s would improve you as a person? Why or why not? What would be your top five virtues?

I think a plan like Franklin’s would improve me as a person because I am not perfect. There are virtues that I am lacking in and need to improve upon. I think that an ordered regiment of acquiring virtues would help me be a happier person like Franklin claimed after attempting the same task. My top 5 virtues would be order, frugality, industry, tranquility, and humility. These are the virtues that I find most important.

Journal #5

Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense”

1. Identify the specific argument that Paine is making in each paragraph. For each of the arguments, identify whether Paine is making an emotional, ethical, or logical appeal and suggest an effective counterargument.

#1
The argument in the 1st paragraph is that the revolution will be hard but in the end, it will be worth it. Also, the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph will be in the end. Freedom is going to cost a heavy price and it takes a great sacrifice to give it value.
The appeal is mainly emotional because Americans are mistreated and Paine is talking about how glorious it will be when freedom is achieved. It is logical because they are under slavery of Britain and need to be freed. It is ethical because that they are doing to the colonies is wrong.
The counter point is that the Americans owe the English. They wouldn’t have the freedom that they have through England and they are under government control. This is treason against the state and it will be bad if we lose. There is no certainty for victory.

#2
The argument for the 2nd argument is that God will not let America loose; he will not let Britain destroy us with military force. The appeal is Ethical because the king is wrong and America is right. God is on America’s side and that is why we will win. America is morally right so they must triumph. The counter point is that God may not want a war and he might not help America. Also, God could be on England’s side. The king is backed by divine right so God could be on his side.

#3
The argument in the 3rd paragraph is that Paine is trying to get America to fight as soon as possible so it is not left to their children. He wants to fight now so the next generation can enjoy peace because eventually there will be a separation. The appeal is logical because he is saying that the separation will occur eventually. It is emotional because he is talking about helping out America’s children and giving them peace. It is ethical because Paine wants to improve future generations. The counter argument is that we shouldn’t fight because it may be worked out. There could also be diplomacy to work out the problem. Losing a parent or the war could negatively impact a child.

#4
The argument in the 4th paragraph is that America wouldn’t fight an offensive war against Brittan but the English have invaded and destroyed our property. They are like a thief breaking into your house. We need to defend ourselves from the British. It is an argument by analogy, comparing the king to a thief. The appeal is emotional because it is addressing how you would feel if someone would break into your house. It is ethical because if you are being attacked then you need to fight back. The counter argument is that Britain is so much more powerful than the colonies, that it is not ever worth trying to fight them. The colonies would lose and get ever stricter treatment from Britain.


2. Can you identify any of the logical fallacies that we discussed in Paine’s arguments? If so, which ones? Overall, what do you feel are the strengths and weaknesses of Paine’s arguments?

The logical fallacies include devices like faulty analogies where Paine says that Britain is putting the colonies into slavery when it is not true. He also claims that the King is breaking into our house and stealing from us when he isn’t. The writing is ad homonym because he is personally attaching the king and calling him names.It is begging the question because Paine is assuming that the colonies will win. Also, he assumes what God wants the colonies to win. He writes in aphorisms about the mood of the country. His writing is dogmatic because America tried to avoid war but Britain is still going to attach. It is a matter of faith that God will not let the colonies lose. His writing has a faulty dichotomy because he only gives the two extreme. We can either be with the king or with the colonies.

The weaknesses are that and the colonies might not win. The colonies actually have a good amount of freedom even though Paine makes it seem like they don’t. He failed to mention the sacrifices that will need to be made. Also, God may not be on the colonies’ side. Paine’s main weakness is logic. He doesn’t make logical sense in his writings because he claims things that aren’t certain. He doesn’t use facts or statistics to back up his argument.

The strengths are that it will be great if America wins. Paine is persuasive in reasons other than logic. He can touch people on an emotional level. The strengths of his argument are that the colonies are feeling wronged by Britain. He is appealing to the emotions of the Americans. Eventually the colonies will split with Britain so we should separate now and save future generations from tyranny.

Journal 4

Descriptive Writing Assignment

I sat down with my family and prepared for dinner. The smell of hickory smoke filled the air as my dad lifted the grill lid and took off a few grilled chicken breasts. I took a piece and set it on my plate along with a soft, white roll and a pile of mashed potatoes. I gently set the chicken breast in the roll and spread a dab of mayonnaise on top. The roll was as soft and fluffy as a pillow. It was lightly dusted with flower. I took a bite and my taste buds were immediately assaulted by the rich, creamy flavor of the mayo combined with the juicy, char grilled flavor of the chicken breast. The chicken was perfectly done. It was slightly charred and cooked to a perfect shade of white. It was delicious!

Then, I picked up my spoon and scooped up a portion of mashed potatoes. They were freshly cook and the steam still rolled off there summit. It took a bite. The mashed potatoes were creamy and smooth, with a hint of butter. I could taste a light salty flavor along with a subtle taste of chives. I picked up my sandwich again and took another bite. This time I could also taste a lite peppery tang along with the juicy flavor of the chicken. I happily finished the rest of my meal and was stuffed.

Journal 3

Ann Hodgman

1. Cite three specific examples of Hodgman’s descriptive imagery that you find to be particularly effective.

“The cheese chews like fresh play-doh, whereas the meat chews like play-doh that’s been sitting on a rug for a couple of hours” (p. 78)

“When I pulled open the container, juice spurted all over my hand, and the first chunk I speared was trailing a long grey vein” (p. 79)

“The mock marrow inside was a bit more problematic: in addition to looking like the sludge that collects in treads of my running shows, it was bursting with tiny hairs” (p. 81)

2. What do you think Hodgman’s purpose was in writing this essay? What overall message/meaning do you take from the essay?

I think that the overall purpose was to gross out the reader. She is showing us how gross the food is that we give to our dogs. The overall message is that he shouldn’t be duped by dog food companies into buying their food. They focus on marketing the food so that people want to buy it for their dogs and not so that dogs will eat healthier. She is investigating the marketing claims that people don’t usually look into. Also, dogs can’t tell us what they think of the food. The food is filled with strange ingredients and byproducts that aren’t healthy. Why should we feed this disgusting food to our dogs if we wouldn’t want to eat it ourselves? The essay is a satire and not meant to be serious.

Journal 2

Annie Dillard

1.The moths in the opening of the essay are hollow shells wrapped in a spider cocoon. The moths are in the corner of the bathroom at the beginning and are like dust on the floor. The moth at the campsite it burned by the candle and glows like a light bulb in the fire. The moths in the beginning represent wasting away and not living life to the fullest. The moth in the campsite is representing being consumed by ambition like being a writer consumes you. The moth jumps right into the fire without hesitation.

2.Dillard wanted to know how many of her students would be willing to give up their lives to be writers. She tells her students that being a writer will consume you. You must go at your life with a broadax and remove all distractions. You have to give everything you have to be successful.

3. The fire references include; the book The Day on Fire, the candle at the campsite, the cat’s tail catching on fire, and the three candles that the author leaves on in here home. People light candles for remembrance and prayer, so a candle represents the prayer. The larger significance of fire is that it consumes things. Fire is dangerous and can be harmful. It is like how being a writer takes all of you. You can’t be devoted to anything else. Fire is destructive but also enchanting and beautiful.

4. a.The London quote is similar to the comparison of the two moths. The one moth became dust on the floor. The other moth was consumed by fire and became ashes. Dillard would rather go out in a brilliant flash than wither and waste away. The moth in fire was consumed just like being a writer consumes your life. London doesn’t want you to waste your life. London explains this through comparison of magnificent and boring things.

b.The Yeats quote is about how educating students is not just pouring more information into their heads, it is about igniting the passion that is already locked inside them. The fuel for this fire is already inside students and it just needs the spark. This also goes back to how being a writer consumes you like a fire. Filling a pail is boring and lighting a fire is more passionate.

c. The Kafka quote is about how a book breaks through the frozen sea inside us like an ax would. This goes back to how the Dillard says you need to go at your life with a broadax. They are both meant to make your travel easier. You need to clear a path and remove distractions.