The theme of the poem is that the pursuit of materialistic possessions are ultimately vain and that overtime, these things become useless. The author favors knowledge over materialistic possessions. This theme is apparent in the last few lines of the poem, "Mine is the better and the truer way: to leave the vanities of life aside, not throw my life away in vanity." These lines say that the author does not want to waste her life in the pursuit of vanities that would do her no good as she get older and after she dies.
I agree with the theme in that knowledge is more important compared to wealth and beauty. I also agree that beauty would wear out eventually as time go by. Money wouldn't be important if you didn't have the knowledge to use it on useful things. However, I disagree that enjoying life on earth and the pursuit of materialistic possessions is totally worthless. I believe that it is best to live life to the fullest. I think that people would be most successful if they can enjoy life and still learn as they grow.
2010年9月30日 星期四
2010年9月29日 星期三
How Effective is the Poem's Title?
I thought the poem has a pretty effective title, but only after reading the poem. Although not directly related, it describes the feeling of being restricted well. Just by looking the title you would not be able to tell what the poem would be about.
After our discussion in class I learned that the "things of beauty" in line 3 means knowledge and not happy thoughts. I think I understand the poem a bit more after this. I thought the poem was about how the author had a different view towards beauty and wealth, but instead she is talking about how knowledge is more important than beauty and wealth. I think he use of words (even thought translated) is very nice. She would use the same world to describe two different things. For example, "setting treasure in my mind" means learning about all the wonderful things in the world, while "mind that's set on winning treasure" is the more literal meaning of treasure, the money and other riches. Another example is "to stock my mind with things of beauty", which also talk about knowledge, and "wastes it stock on beauty's claim", which is the society's view towards what beauty. She uses similar words to describe contrasting things: one that she wants and another that she does not want to waste her mind on.
After our discussion in class I learned that the "things of beauty" in line 3 means knowledge and not happy thoughts. I think I understand the poem a bit more after this. I thought the poem was about how the author had a different view towards beauty and wealth, but instead she is talking about how knowledge is more important than beauty and wealth. I think he use of words (even thought translated) is very nice. She would use the same world to describe two different things. For example, "setting treasure in my mind" means learning about all the wonderful things in the world, while "mind that's set on winning treasure" is the more literal meaning of treasure, the money and other riches. Another example is "to stock my mind with things of beauty", which also talk about knowledge, and "wastes it stock on beauty's claim", which is the society's view towards what beauty. She uses similar words to describe contrasting things: one that she wants and another that she does not want to waste her mind on.
2010年9月27日 星期一
Hounded By the World
The title of the poem "World, in Hounding Me..." gives me the impression that the person is being tracked or chased after. It gives a nervous and uneasy feeling. I makes me think that the poem would be about running away from something big and powerful; and that big and powerful creature, wether an object, person or even animal, limits the person. I think the tone of the poem would be and anxious.
After reading he poem, however, I realized that it is not about being chased after. The author of the poem feel limited my the world. She seems to have a different take on what is beautiful, the definitions of being wealthy and the importance of both beauty and wealth. She is frustrated by the fact that he society makes everyone think the same way. In the poem, she tries to convince people that her point of view is right.
After reading he poem, however, I realized that it is not about being chased after. The author of the poem feel limited my the world. She seems to have a different take on what is beautiful, the definitions of being wealthy and the importance of both beauty and wealth. She is frustrated by the fact that he society makes everyone think the same way. In the poem, she tries to convince people that her point of view is right.
2010年9月25日 星期六
My Personal Loss
The Death of Pudding
Crouched in the corner of the cage
was a ball of fur,
fast asleep.
When he finally woke up,
its two black and beady eyes gazed back at mine,
my sister and I giggled.
The color of its fur was yellow
with a bit of brown,
so wee decided to name
our first pet hamster
Pudding,
He grew up fast,
a small ball of fur no longer.
Its fat, but cute,
and wobbles when he walks,
because he has short legs.
My dad made a collar for him.
So we can "walk him" like we would to a dog.
It never works.
He would just find a way to slip out of the collar.
Let himself loose to room the house.
He is the longest-living hamster I know of.
Two and a half year. Almost three.
But we could tell it was getting older.
He is not as energetic and has lost patches of fur.
His eyes looks a bit blurry.
His senses not as sharp.
I knew we would loose him soon.
He seems to know so too.
On that uncommon day on the 22nd of April.
Pudding came out of his cage again after refusing to do so
so many times before.
It roomed around the house,
making sure he gets to every corner.
At night, as he was making his way outside of the house,
he got stepped on.
He did not die
yet.
He opened his weak eyes,
to say his last good bye.
My mother rush to the doctors,
so he can have a less painful death.
Yes. He left.
After more than two years.
Our very first pet:
Pudding.
2010年9月21日 星期二
Guilt
Guilt. It's a feeling I have felt many times in my life. Even if it was for something as small as eating snack before dinner. Its that uneasy feeling at the pit of your stomach that keeps coming back. You really want to tell the truth, but you just can't bring yourself up to it. You're afraid of the consequences. The last time I felt guilty was the past summer. I went to a camp with many bright and friendly people. There was this one girl that was especially nice to me. She would buy me things and even introduced me to her friends back at home. We got along really well at first, but as time went on, she would be jealous whenever I hang out or hugged somebody else. She continued to be really nice, so I couldn't do much to reject her. However, I started to slowly avoid her. I don't think she noticed what I was trying to do because I still acted happy when I was with her. I tried to act like I liked her as much as she liked me, but felt bad. I wanted to be with her, but she would sometimes get a little obsessed and I would find an excuse to leave. I didn't know what to do because I didn't want to just tell her how I was feeling. She would feel bad. I felt really guilty until the last day of camp. On that last day, I gave her a real hug and told her that I would miss her, which was true. Then her dad walked over and told me, "So you must be Tiffany? I've heard a lot about you." I felt so bad I almost cried. Right now, all I can do it keep in touch, and well, we're still good friends. We want to go to the same college, so some day, we might meet and I would make it all up to her. Next time, I would be a real good friend.
2010年9月13日 星期一
Puritans and Possessions
Think about major Puritan Beliefs as you read "Burning of the House". What philosophical belief about God and the purpose of human life are reflected in Branstreet's poem?
The puritans believes that the purpose of life is to live as God says. They believe in living an industrious and simply lifestyle. They believe that everything they have comes from God and God can take it away whenever he wants to. People shouldn't have too much connections with their material goods or else, they will loose their connection with God, which is the most valuable thing to have. They believe that true happiness lays in heaven, after people have died. On earth, people just have to do good and wait for their chance to go to heaven.
I think their belief contradicts itself. If true happiness is only in heaven, then most people would want to just die so they can go to heaven. Another contradiction is that if they believe only certain chosen people can go to heaven, and they these people are destined to go to heaven, they why work so hard when everything is destined?
The puritans believes that the purpose of life is to live as God says. They believe in living an industrious and simply lifestyle. They believe that everything they have comes from God and God can take it away whenever he wants to. People shouldn't have too much connections with their material goods or else, they will loose their connection with God, which is the most valuable thing to have. They believe that true happiness lays in heaven, after people have died. On earth, people just have to do good and wait for their chance to go to heaven.
I think their belief contradicts itself. If true happiness is only in heaven, then most people would want to just die so they can go to heaven. Another contradiction is that if they believe only certain chosen people can go to heaven, and they these people are destined to go to heaven, they why work so hard when everything is destined?
2010年9月9日 星期四
Hester's Punishment
How do you feel about what happened to Hester Prynne?
I thought the punishment they put on Hester was understandable. Even if they didn't make her stand in the middle of the market, people would know about the what she did and would also treated her badly. They seemed to be especially lenient to her because the punishment of adultery at the time was a death penalty. I think the death penalty is too harsh a punishment for adultery. The government shouldn't even have the right to have control over people's private relationships. However, because of their strict religious rules, it is very possible that the puritans would create a rule like that.
Although i thought the punishment was understandable, I don't think Hester should take all the blame. her partner should have been brave enough to stand up and admit to what he did. Also, her husband had not come to meet her for more than a year before she committed adultery. There is a very high chance that her husband would not survive to get to the new world. Hester and even most of the colonists didn't think he was still alive, so Hester was not truly at fault for what she did.
I thought the punishment they put on Hester was understandable. Even if they didn't make her stand in the middle of the market, people would know about the what she did and would also treated her badly. They seemed to be especially lenient to her because the punishment of adultery at the time was a death penalty. I think the death penalty is too harsh a punishment for adultery. The government shouldn't even have the right to have control over people's private relationships. However, because of their strict religious rules, it is very possible that the puritans would create a rule like that.
Although i thought the punishment was understandable, I don't think Hester should take all the blame. her partner should have been brave enough to stand up and admit to what he did. Also, her husband had not come to meet her for more than a year before she committed adultery. There is a very high chance that her husband would not survive to get to the new world. Hester and even most of the colonists didn't think he was still alive, so Hester was not truly at fault for what she did.
2010年9月8日 星期三
Material Possessions
"Burning of our House" quickwrite (textbook p. 28)
I think material possessions are pretty important to me. I would be devastated if my house burned down. I would feel the place where I belong has been destroyed. The hardest things to loose might be my childhood pictures and cards people sent to me. Another thing might be my huge teddy bear. I got it when I was around ten and it reminds me of one that I had when i was even younger. Something easy thing to live without would be the decorations around the house. They don't have too much importance in my life.
2010年9月6日 星期一
Puritans and Rationalists Today
Consider the beliefs of the puritans and rationalists. How do people think about the universe ad human nature today? What do you think about them? Can you see evidence of either of those world views in your own views or of those of society at large?
Puritans believed that all people are sinners because we are the descendants of Adams and Eve. However, they believe that there are a chosen few that would go to heaven after they die. They practice strict religious rules and live simple and industrious lives.
The Rationalists, on the other hand, believe in using reason to prove everything. They, unlike the Puritans, believe that human nature is good. They believed that God created this world and stood back to let it run by itself.
In the world today, there are still conflicting views on the human nature. Although they don't necessarily agree with the rationalist ideas, modern people tend to prefer using reason and experiments to solve their problems.
I do not agree completely with either the puritans or rationalist view, but i do prefer the rationalist view in that human nature is good. I also think that human are lazy by nature. People do bad things, like stealing, because they are too lazy to do things the proper way.
Puritans believed that all people are sinners because we are the descendants of Adams and Eve. However, they believe that there are a chosen few that would go to heaven after they die. They practice strict religious rules and live simple and industrious lives.
The Rationalists, on the other hand, believe in using reason to prove everything. They, unlike the Puritans, believe that human nature is good. They believed that God created this world and stood back to let it run by itself.
In the world today, there are still conflicting views on the human nature. Although they don't necessarily agree with the rationalist ideas, modern people tend to prefer using reason and experiments to solve their problems.
I do not agree completely with either the puritans or rationalist view, but i do prefer the rationalist view in that human nature is good. I also think that human are lazy by nature. People do bad things, like stealing, because they are too lazy to do things the proper way.
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