thesis

janie's hate for her grandmother is unjustified, as Nanny never wanted anything other than the best for her.

I think that the scene in chapter 3, where Janie and Nanny are talking about marriage, love, and happiness, is the most important in the book so far. In this scene, Nanny is concerned that Janie will search for love, and not have anyone to take care of her when she is gone. Another concern that she has is that Janie will find a man she loves, but he will not be able to provide for him. Janie still holds onto romantic thoughts about love and marriage, and finding the right man for her. Nanny is very much a realist thinker, and Janie is very much a romantic. This scene is important because I think this issue is going to be the pillar upon which this story stands. This scene is one of great personal conflict, growth, and revelation, as seen in the last two sentences in the chapter "She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie's first dream was dead, so she became a woman."

Response to quote #2 of "their eyes..."

This scene paints a tranquil picture. It shows this sixteen year old girl who is embracing nature. She is happy, and you can tell by the way the author describes her absorbing her surroundings. She notices small things like bees buzzing, because she is in love. She is in a happy stupor, then stumble in upon her sick grandmother

The Minister's Black Veil

Nathanial Hawthorne-The Minister's Black Veil
Page-53 in reader

"Such was the effect of this simple peice of crape that more than one woman of delicate nerves was forced to leave the meeting-house. Yet perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearfull a sight to the minister, as his black veil to them".

Hawthorne is saying that the people were scared by such a simple thing, and acted as if it had suddenly turned a good man bad. They didnt consider that their reation to it may have been even more scary for the minister. It is foolish to assume, as they did, that there was no reason for the veil, and immediately assume that he had gone mad.

Nathanial Hawthorne-The Minister's Black Veil
Page-55 in reader

"How Strange," said the lady,"that a simple black veil, such as any
woman might wear on her bonnet, should be such a terrible thing on Mr. Hooper's face."

This lady does not see the veil itself as the scary thing here. She instead is scared because he is such a holy man, and he is wearing the attire of a mourning woman. Many people are also upset because it separates them from Mr. Hooper in a sinister way.

From the Heart of Thoreau's Journals response

From the Heart of Thoreau's Journals: Jan. 16
page: 46 in reader

"...he might be some mighty philosipher, greater than Socrates or Diogenes, simplifying life, returning to nature..."

This quote is very ironic, because it corrisponds to a homeless drunkard. Thoreau believes that even though this man got himself into this situation, he may be much wiser than most people because he knows what life requires. He thinks that this man knows how life works, because he has to live off of the bare minimum.


From The Heart of Thoreau's Journals: July 26
page: 49 in reader

"By my intimacy with nature I find myself withdrawn from man. My interest in the sun and the moon, in the morning and evening, compels me to solitude."

Thoreau believes that he cannot be equally in touch with nature and human beings. I think that it is quite possible to be "intimate" with both, if you do not fall into a routine, as Thoreau believed. A routine will bring you closer to one or the other. For example if you go to school every day then you will be more in touch with humans, but if instead you went for a walk in the woods, you would be more in tuned with nature. By switching things up, or having a balanced routine, I think that it is fully possible to be intimate with both.

Where i lived and what i lived for, response

Henry David Thoreau-Walden- Where I lived, and What I Lived For
Page: 24 in reader

"That man who does not believe that each day contains an earlier, more sacred, and auroral hour than he has profaned, has dispaired of life, and is pursuing a descending and darkening way."

Thoreau believes that anyone who doesn't believe that each day holds some kind of higher meaning, will become self-centered, and not live life to the fullest. He thinks that everyone should get up, feel alive, and get out and do something, and interact with the world around them. Anyone who doesnt do this will soon be bored, boring, and dismal.

Henry David Thoreau-Walden- Where I lived, and What I Lived For
Page: 25 in reader

"I did not wish to live what was not life...I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life..."

Thoreau believes that people should live getting everything out of a day possible. He went into the woods to avoid getting in a routine, where he would get only what needed to be accomplished done. The ambition here is to try something new, experience something different, and live in the moment.

Paper Topic

I shall do number III(3)

HW due tuesday- what do you want to get out of this class?

In this class I want to learn many things. The biggest is a better understanding of how American literature progressed and changed through history.