Edgar Allen Poe

Poe is an interesting fellow. I watched a biography on him a couple months ago, on a whim, and found his life to be pretty forlorn. With the death of nearly everyone he ever loved, my life would be pitiful, as well.

There was a lot of discussion in class about whether or not his life played a role in what he was writing about. I would have to say, without a doubt, that yes his life did play a part. At least in respects to the poetry we read for today.

The Raven is fascinating poem, at least to me. I like the psychological aspect in terms of "is this man really all there?". Probably not, is my answer. And if we're already saying that Poe's art imitated his life, then we might as well reason that the man in this poem is probably drunk. And with intoxication comes looniness and thus, I'm going to say that this man was wasted, feeling depressed, at odds with himself, and this bird happened to be there to take the wrath.

Just my opinion.

CARNIVAL! Whooooo.

Okay so for my "Carnival" post.

Honestly, there is a lack of blogging (myself clearly included) so my Carnival post will consist of what I have read thus far about Hawthorne.

Mostly, the reviews are two thumbs up. Well, one and a half. Generally speaking. Most people are stating that they enjoyed the Scarlet Letter (for a few, enjoyed in more the second time around). I would have to agree. A few more people stated that well, some of Hawthorne's text is good and the other is...questionable. Especially concerning the preface to the novel. I would have to agree with this statement, as well.

The consensus seems to be that Hawthorne is pretty alright.

The Scarlet Letter -

Oh Hawthorne. I enjoy your tale of Hester Prynne and the rest of the gang.

I think that the Scarlet Letter definitely resonates today and that's why it is so great.

Honestly, I don't have a lot to say about it. I read it in high school and wasn't as interested as I was reading it now. I feel as if you can read something once and then read it again at a different part in your life and it strikes a different chord. This is essentially how I feel about this story.

Basically I, in some ways, admire Hester. She is an interesting character and although obviously flawed, I consider a strong woman who overcomes a lot of struggle and contempt.

Overall...I enjoyed reading.

Nature

I have always enjoyed being outdoors. Spring and Summer are my favorite seasons because I am able to go outside and enjoy simple things like sunshine, grass, and the wind. I am one of those people who could walk for hours; just taking in everything that I see. It is almost a poetic experience to walk and look around at all of the different trees, birds, and clouds. At night is my favorite time to walk because the city quiets down and nature seems more at ease. There is a calmness at night that surfaces when you feel as if everyone else is asleep and you are out in the world without a lot of the distractions that can be a burden throughout the day time.

Thoreau: Walden

I love Thoreau.

Really, I feel like Thoreau planted ideas in my my mind that Emerson tried to do but didn't quite succeed in. I like how Thoreau was less philosophical and more grounded in simple ideas.

I liked how he described the country as more than just a place but a way of life. The individual experience of seeing nature and living in it and living off the land is appealing in that it is so simplistic and almost a dream. I also like how he touched on how it is important to learn on one's own. To experience things through your own eyes.

Emerson: Nature

I thought that the text Nature by Emerson was very interesting. I've read Emerson before but never at length, more like bits and pieces.

I think that it is an interesting thought to "lose oneself in nature". I've always enjoyed being outdoors and that is what I generally think of when I hear the word "nature". However, Emerson puts a twist on the term and chooses to represent nature as more than just the outdoors. Nature to Emerson is everything that is not your soul. That perspective got me thinking of how things that are so familiar to me could be represented as foreign according to Emerson.

I like the concept of becoming apart of the natural world and having it teach us about ourselves. I feel that people get swept away in their day to day lives (myself included) and forget that there is so much more than the city and our lives inside the city.

Phyllis Wheatley

I thought that Phyllis Wheatley's poems were very good. I'm already a big fan of poetry but her poems (along with her circumstance of being a very young black slave) were interesting and beautiful to read.

My favorite poem was the first one -- On Being Brought From Africa to America. She has a great way of using language poetically to express her thoughts and feelings. I really like how she points out the racial injustice in America. I wonder how her voice and style would have grown if she were to have lived longer. It would have been really interesting to read poems she authored later in life.