Post 15: Most Important Thing I've Learned - Literature

     The most important thing that I've learned in this class about the literature we read is how to utilize my critical thinking more efficiently. When it comes to reading or writing literature, critical strategies are the most important steps for a clearer understanding. "Successful critical approaches avoid eccentric decodings that reveal so-called meanings that are not only hidden but totally absent from the text." Using this type of approach helped me to analyze the literature I read and helped the flow of my essays. It also allowed me to point out the theme, tone, setting, symbolism, and imagery in whatever literature I am reading. This class has sharpen my writing skills to an even higher level. 

    Writing and understanding the purpose of a thesis statement for an essay is now an easier process. "In developing a thesis, you are expected not merely to present information but to argue an interpretive point." The thesis ties the entire essay together and is the most important sentence of the paper. "One way to come up with persuasive answers is to generate good questions that will lead you further into the text and to critical issues related to it." Learning these important things will not only increase my knowledge in literature, but it will also benefit me in my career. Being in the IT field, I must have the ability to use critical strategies and analyze information. After analyzing the data, documentation must be written and sometimes read. These skills will forever be useful in my life.

Post 14: Role of Women in Contemporary America

    Just as Nora in A Doll's House, women in contemporary America play the roles of wives, mothers, housekeepers to the home, and servants to their husbands and children. These roles have not changed from then up until now. Nora catered to her husband's needs and wants, and women in contemporary America do the same to their husband. Since Nora's husband was the head of the household a.k.a. "the bread winner" he gave her an allowance. If the woman plays the role of "housewife" and doesn't work then the husband would give their wife an allowance on a weekly or monthly basis. In addition, women in contemporary America and Nora are obedient to their husband, and their husband has the final say so on decisions that are made.

    Nora was talked down on like she was a child, but women in contemporary America will not allow a man to speak down on them. Also, women in contemporary America sometimes plays the role of head of the household. Unlike Nora, they will work a full-time job while some of the men play the role of "house-dad." Women today are more likely to take charge being self-sufficient, well aware and financially independent. Women are no longer accepting the idea of them being just objects to their male counter partners. In contemporary America, women have stood up for their rights to be treated as equals to men.

Post 13: The Setting of My Favorite Movie - "Friday The 13th Part VI Jason Lives"

    

My favorite movie of all-time is "Friday The 13th Part VI Jason Lives." The setting is located deep in the woods at Camp Crystal Lake. At one point of time, it was known as Camp Blood, but after all the murders by Jason Voorhees they changed the name to Camp Forest Green. At this summer camp, teenagers are slaughtered as a sign of revenge from Jason. Camp Crystal Lake is a spooky place with an eerie feeling to it. The setting means a lot for the movie because it is the perfect place for serial killer Jason Voorhees to hide. Its scary setting makes for a great horror movie. Jason represents the natural world because after he drowned, as a child, he was resurrected as a man. Any unethical acts that you commit, you will die. Teens having sex, smoking weed, or drinking alcohol, they will die. This a classic horror movie with a classic setting to it.

Post 12: Symbol In A Song & Poem

    The symbols used in Robert Frost's poem "Acquainted with the Night" are similar to the symbols in Sam Cooke's song "A Change Is Gonna Come." Frost's first line says, "I have been one acquainted with the night" and Cooke's first line says, "I was born by the river, in a little tent." Both lines symbolizes how their depression started. Both, Frost and Cooke are struggling with no escape of their feelings. In the line "I have looked down the saddest city lane" symbolizes the darkness within the speaker's mind. Cooke has a similar symbolism in his line, "Oh, and just like the river I've been running ever since." This symbolizes Cooke's struggle and like the river, his struggle never ends. "And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain" is another line where Frost uses to symbolize the darkness he feels.

    Unlike Frost's poem, in Cooke's song there is a belief in a positive ending. Things seems hopeless in Cooke's song, especially with the line "And I say, brother, help me please But he winds up, knockin' me Back down on my knees." This line symbolizes the hopelessness from his darkness and depression. Even though depression is throughout Cooke's song, there is also a belief of something good will come. Several times throughout the song Cooke says, "A long time coming But I know a change gonna come." This is Cooke's way of having faith even though he is struggling from a lot of depression. Frost does not see any type of positive throughout his poem. He even ends the poem with the same feeling of depression. "I have been one acquainted with the night."