Personal Ad Reflection

Look at all the Personal Ads. Who did the best job of selling J. Alfred Prufrock? What specific details about him did they use in their ad?

I don't really any one better over the other. I think all of the ads are good, and are pretty funny. I liked Mehak and my ad, because, of course, we made it. :) But I also think that, even though it was kind of silly and the picture was a cartoon, it still fit in with Prufrock's character. I also like Alvin's group's ad because of their drawing. It was a well-drawn picture, and you could really imagine someone like that writing the poem.

J. Alfred Prufrocks at Gunderson?

Are there students like J. Alfred Prufrock at Gunderson? If there are, describe them. They could be boys or girls. Why do some people have trouble connecting on a romantic level with others?

Defined in his own poem, Prufrock seems to be very shy, sensitive, and emotionally insecure. I'm pretty sure that there are many students at Gunderson that are very much like Prufrock. The students here, like at any other school, are made up of different outlooks, different mentality, and different personalities. However, the students that probably are most similar to Prufrock may be the students from the 'Emo' clique. As a typical high school stereotype, the 'Emo' kids are normally seen as the delicate and easily broken. But then again, I'm also sure that everyone is emotionally fragile, or just plain out shy at certain times in their life. Like Prufrock, some people have trouble reaching out to others, especially a significant other. Some are just too shy, and some are overtaken by the fear of rejection (some are both).

Banned in the USA

Why are books or music banned in the USA? Is this beneficial or detrimental to our society? Go this link. Is there a pattern to why books are banned?

Music and books are mostly banned because of the fear of realization and being exposed to something you shouldn't be exposed to. Nonetheless, the fact that anything is banned from others at all is detrimental to society, unless it is truly inappropriate for a certain age group. Most of the books listed on the website are frequently challenged because of sexuality and offensive language, which I feel really should be censored from children. However, there are books that are listed on the website due to racism and religious viewpoints. I feel that these should not be banned. People, even children, need to be open minded and exposed to the flaws and different perspectives of society.

The Lowest Animal

"Americans have always had a high regard for progress and self-improvement. Mark Twain couples this admirable national trait with a blistering vision of how far, in his opinion, the human race falls short of its ideals. Think about what you would like to change about human nature, and freewrite your ideas" (Holt 468).

For as long as humans have existed, they have never been flawless. Through years of development and progress, barely anything of the human nature were changed. If it were somehow possible, I would certainly like to get rid of the infatuation, selfishness, and violence that we drown ourselves in.

All humans are, in one way or another, infatuated with our desires. The growth of technology, although not quite a bad thing, can be an example of our materialistic interests. Today, it seems as though everyone is walking around with cellphones and mp3 players in their pockets. There is an abundance of useful technology that have been remade and modified over and over to flatter the consumers that never seem to be satisfied with even the latest updates.

Despite even those who are less concerned about themselves, all humans are selfish(though it may not always be for a bad reason). For most people, its "every man/woman for themself." One example would be today's social classes. There is a huge gap between the rich and the poor. In today's economy, it is understandable why people are not willing to help. However, some of those who are wealthy aren't even willing to lend a helping hand to those who are not.

Violence has become too common in society. Many people have turned to violence for resolving their problems. There are school fights, street fights, gang fights, and drive bys--they all seem so meaningless to me. Humans releasing such brutality on other humans, just for their own interests, for their own reputations. The world is infected with the existence of the word 'war', and it may never be forgotten. This is the greatest flaw of the human nature.

Satire

Look in the dictionary on your computer. What is satire? Go to this link. Read some of the articles. Why is this satire?

'Satire' is defined in the dictionary as the use of irony, sarcasm, or ridicule in exposing, denouncing, deriding vice or folly.

The articles on The Onion are filled with satire. They exaggerate the truth and make fun of real life situations and today's society. One example would be the parody news video about Apple's introduction of a laptop lacking a keyboard, which ridicules people's infatuation of materials and technology.

Female Characters and Female Writers

In the portrayal of male and female characters, does it matter if the writer is a man or a woman? Give specific examples from the books we have read this semester. [The Bean Trees and Ethan Frome are the only ones written by women: Barbara Kingsolver and Edith Wharton].

Whether the author is a man or a woman definitely affects the books and the portrayal of characters. This is because both men and women have a different view of each other. Since men don't fully understand what it's like to be a woman, and vice-versa, they can only make guesses over what they've seen, or refer to the common stereotypical outlines. Nonetheless, some authors are able to portray both sexes perfectly. Kingsolver, in her book The Bean Trees, portrays both the stereotypical sides of men and women, but also counters them with an opposite character. Lou Ann, for example, was the well-known feminine character that was weak and powerless. Taylor, on the other hand, was the independent character that could take care of herself. For men, Kingsolver placed stubborn and self-absorbed traits into Lou Ann's husband, and then portrayed a man's sensitive and caring traits through Estevan.

Love Letter to Mattie

Write a love letter from Ethan Frome to Mattie Silver. Use one quote from the book. Use as many specific details from the story as you can.

My dear Mattie,
I've found myself writing and re-writing, hoping to perfectly form all these restless thoughts of you into words so that you would understand. I never would've imagined myself this much in love with you. Since the day we met, you've left a beautiful image with me. When I hear your name, the image forms in my mind, and I see paradise--I see you. Do you remember that night we were alone? "[I] had put [my] arm about [you], and [you] had not resisted." And from this I realized, my love was being returned.
But how can someone so lovely bring so much passion into my soul, yet stir up so much pain in my heart at the same time? It kills me, dearest, that I am already married. It kills me, that my wife is your cousin. I don't love her. However, love is not quite the situation anymore. I'm stuck between desire and morality. Tell me, what can we do? I can't stand living without my Mattie. We're destined to be apart no matter how strong our love, and I guess there really is nothing left to do. Promise me, that even when we are thousands of miles apart, I will always stay embedded into your heart. The angelic image of you, my dear, will be carved into my soul with detail.

Sincerely and forever yours,
Ethan Frome