Assignment #6

Before starting my Eng 102 class I didn't really have many expectations, I knew we were going to be doing a lot of reading and writing. However I wasn't expecting to do blogs. To be quite honest I didn't even know what a blog was. The assignments that we get are quite fair since we go over them in class. I really like the fact that I've learned new methods in how to approach works of literature. I also like the fact that we analyze every text. To me blogs are more exciting than papers since they can be shared with others. I can express myself without any restrictions. The fact that others read my blog doesn't change the way I write on them because I always like to do organized and good work even if it won't be judged or anaylzed. Is really interesting to read other classmates blogs. I can learn from others and appreciate how we all have different styles of writing .

Blog #5 poems

"Don't give up" by Praveen

It's half past midnight
tossing and turning
unable to sleep,
I don't know what to do,

My mind is far away
in search of something
that I once had and
somehow slipped out of my hand;

Struggling to understand this
tug of war between the mind and heart
I try to search for a solution
so as to agree on a compromise;

Trying to pay attention
to what's happening around me,
I try to decipher the clues and hints
that I believe are there for my picking;

Like a fish out of water
out of innocence into adulthood
too soon into this fast paced game
where I am just a spectator, lost and bewildered;

So what happened?
Where did all go wrong?
What am I supposed to do?
What is that I have to do?

Plenty of questions
answers all out there,
is what I'm told
yet I'm totally lost

Going round and round
in a place where the streets
have no name, I bobble
In an out of life

As the storm rages on
the leaves blow and the trees sway
all I know is that I am here to stay
till the day my heart gives up on me;


I've read many poems troughout the years, and so far this got to be one of the best. The transition from being young without many responsabilities into adulthood can be very nerve wrecking. If we worry too much about everything then we just become weak. We can never give up in life regarding how difficult things might get.

Assignment #4-- Criticism

When reading a work of literature, many methods and techniques are used in order for the reader to have a better understanding of the text. Many forms of criticism such as biographical, gender, and psychological criticism can best be used as a way to make a story more comprehendable. Today I will discuss about biographical criticism. Using knowledge of an author's life to better gain insight of a story can be best described as biographical criticism. One story that can best fit this form of criticism is "The story of an hour," by Kate Chopin. If we focus on Kate Chopin's life we learn that she became a widow at an early age and having to raise alone six children. She then managed to run her husband's business (suggesting that she was an independent woman) after being influenced by widows who managed their own lives. Kate Chopin embraced widowhood as a new life filled with hope, possabilities and happiness. After knowing these facts about the author we can have a clearer understanding of "The story of an hour." Just like the author the main character Ms. Mallard receives the news by her sister and friend that her husband had been killed. The fact that the story takes sometime around the spring suggests that it was the beginning of a new life. She cries at first and feels grief but is then comforted by the thought that she gets to be free. She was looking forward to begin a new life where no one would have to tell her what to do. Obviously Kate Chopin began a new life after her husband's death becoming a strong independent woman. At the end of the story when Ms. Mallard finds out that her husband was not dead, instead of being happy she felt devastated which led to her sudden death. In my understanding Kate Chopin's view of marriage was not very good. She liked being a widow which is probably the reason she decided to kill the character of Ms.Mallard.

Blog #3

After reading the short story "They things they carried," by Tim O'Brien our views on war and how people respond to death
can definately change. Eventhought the story mainly foucuses on Jimmy Cross, I will give the spotlight to another character by the
name of Kiowa. Kiowa is a soldier who like the others carries materials and non-material things. I find Kiowa to be an interesting character who might come off as a bit annoying.
From the beginning we learn that he is a devout baptist, which is why he carries at all time an illustrated New Testament. He might carry this
to feel some sort of confidence that only God can give. Kiowa also carries his distrust for the white men since he is an Indian, but he gets along with everyone just fine. As the story progresses we start seeing a different side of Kiowa. When Ted Lavender is killed Kiowa just keeps on blurting out how he died. He seemed not to care very much about how the others felt.
In my opinion Kiowa is a round character because bot only he is a soldier but he's also a devout baptist and a friend.
After watching how Jimmy Cross cries over Ted Lavender's death Kiowa wishes he could feel something different
which changes him completely. He realizes that he doesn't want to be so cold inside.
To me Kiowa's reaction is just a clear illustration of how people can react in certain times, which is why I chose him.
The most common reaction that is expected when receiving bad news or watching a person die is to curl up in agony and
cry desperately, something Kiowa didn't do. He just kept on talking about Ted Lavender's death sounding like a broken record.
We never know how we might react until it truly happens.