http://history.hanover.edu/hhr/hhr93_2.html
Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony:
Ceremony I will tell you something about stories,[he said]They aren't just for entertainment.Don't be fooled They are all we have, you see,all we have to fight off illness and death.You don't have anything if you don't have the stories.Their evil is mighty but it can't stand up to our stories.So they try to destroy the stories let the stories be confused or forgotten They would like that They would be happy Because we would be defenseless the.
Response:
I have chosen this selection of Indian Literature because it symbolizes their the importance of literature in there community. In this specific selection Silko describes the white men as people who brought illness and death to her people. She also explains to her audience that they also do not respect their stories and she mentions that they tried to get rid of them. Through my eyes it seems that the Indian culture highly valued literature and disliked humans.
Journal entry:
Dear Diary,
Today was the day my people had met a white man. I have heard stories of these people and how they have harmed us. I've herd that they brought death from where they live and weapons in which i can not describe. I was told that they are barbaric they only know how to kill and nothing else. But today my opinion has changed this white man was no monster he was pretty friendly. It seems that they are pretty stupid though because we traded them for 10 acres for beautiful glass beads.
With hope in our future,
Big Bear
Essential Question:
The Native Americans did not have an American dream but they dream of something else. They dreamt that there land will be free that all will live in harmony. It sounds nice but i never happened because of the white men.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Native American Literature
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Bradstreet's "To My Dear and Loving Husband"
"To my dear and loving husband"
http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/Bradstreet/bradhyp.htm
If ever two were one, then surley we If ever man were loved by wife, then thee; If ever wife was happy in a man, compare me with, ye women, if you can. I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold Or all the riches that the east doth hold. My love is such that rivers cannot quench, Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense. Thy love is such I can no way repay, The heavens reward thee manifold I pray. Then while we live, in love let's so persevere. That when we live no more, we may live ever.
Response:
In the poem that Bradford made, she was able convey to her audience that it is hard to live in America because she was separated from her loved one. She states that her love for her husband can not be replaced. Not even for all the gold mines in the world and the riches in the middle east. From what i was able to understand form the poem written by Bradstreet. She tells the people that come to America is not free as people say. When you arrive you will lose those who mean most to you. Nothing will ever satisfy you even all the riches in the world. I believe that it is hard for a immigrant to enter a new world. They are forced to give up all they believe in and what they love. It seems that coming to America was not so great for people.
Journal Entry:
Dear Diary, Its been know 3 months since i have made my journey to America alone. The affect of being alone has finally struck me. All day i feel miserable, ashamed, and embarrassed that i left my wife. The day we set out to leave from France my wife was struck with a sickness, thus hoping she was strong enough to pass the selection. When we arrived to the ship the selection began people left and right where passing an failing the examination. Finally it was may turn they asked for name, age, and my ticket then a doctor examined me i passed. Next was my wife, i couldn't believe my eyes he had failed the examination. I tried to go back but the security would not allow. Till this day i will never forget this day that i was separated from my love, hoping that one day we will see each other again. Sincerely, Richard de Montesquieu
Bradstreet "By night when others soundly slept"
"By night when others soundly slept"
PASSAGE
1 1By night when others soundly slept
2 5I sought him whom my Soul did Love,
4 13What to my Saviour shall I give
Response:
When Finishing this peace of literature i was able to relate to it well. As well as Bradstreet i also do stay up and reflect on my when lying in my bead. But she also makes me realize how important it is to do it. Some reasons are that it helps realize what you have done good i the day and bad. Thus allowing to correct those things that are bad.
Journal entry:
Today I a friend gave me Anne Bradstreet's poem "By Night When Other Soundly Slept" and I had realized things that i do but not notice. When reading this i noticed that Bradstreet and I sleep the same way. We both stay up late and reflect on the day. ALso ut showed my how people highly chraish this time. Bradstreet's poem think of more things before i go to sleep this cold winter night.
Essential Question:
It does not relate to the American dream
BradStreet "Upon Some Distemper of Body"
"Upon Some Distemper of Body"
http://www.annebradstreet.com/upon_some_distemper_of_body.htm
In anguish of my heart replete with woes, And wasting pains, which best my body knows, In tossing slumbers on my wakeful bed, Bedrenched with tears that flowed from mournful head, Till nature had exhausted all her store, Then eyes lay dry, disabled to weep more; And looking up unto his throne on high, Who sendeth help to those in misery; He chased away those clouds and let me see My anchor cast i' th' vale with safety. He eased my soul of woe, my flesh of pain, and brought me to the shore from troubled main.
Response:
It seems that who ever Bradstreet is talking about has been through many things. She points out that this person is tossing in there sleep, they cry, and she sits in bed till she can't cry no more. This character seems as if she lost some one that was close to them. Bradstreet as shows us that this person is full of misery which tells me that they regret losing that person.
Diary Entry:
I have read this poem and all that i can think of is this journey to America and if it will bring me misery, like the person in the poem Like them i am leaving many loved ones behind to pursue this so called American Dream. But for now I feel as if I am doing the right thing coming to America. Though we have been traveling only a day i cant not tell if what i have chosen will bring me misery. Sincerely, James William
Essential Question:
Sadly,for this person they will not be able to excess the american dream with out there loved one. It seems that there dream is to be united with there husband but she cant. Becouase his is not present in her life.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Equaino's Slave Narrative
Reflection:
After reading Equiano's narrative, I found out how strong of a person he truly was. Equiano's wanted to open the eyes all over the world on the degradation and inhumanity of slavery. Although Equiano did not have to face many of the horrors that many slaves did, he still wanted to speak out in order to support those who did. Equiano was one of the few slaves who was able to acquire learning and literacy, and because of the powerful ties that he help with wealthy merchants a humanitarians, he was able to speak out and become very popular all over the world.
Diary Entry:
Dear Diary,
Equiano truly spoke to me through his narrative, as he was taking a stand for something that he believed in. Although Equiano was not forced to face many of the horrific events that other slaves did, he still worked hard to open the eyes of people all around the world so that the issue of slavery could be looked at in a different way, from a different perspective. I think that it is so important for people to stand up for what they believe and try to make the best of any situation. I look up to Equiano for being such a strong person and for making a difference to people all around the world, and I hope that people will look up to him the way that I do, and try to make a difference for not only their location, but for people all over the world.
Sinners at the Hands of an Angry God
Selection of the passage:
We find it easy to tread on and crush a worm that we see crawling on the earth; so it is easy for us to cut or singe a slender thread that any thing hangs by: thus easy is it for God, when he pleases, to cast his enemies down to hell.
Response:
When reading this selection I immediately had realized that the Puritans were very fervent in their faith. Including this ti has come to my attention that he focused all of his audience attention to the bad things said God would do to them. This poem conveyed a message to me that the Puritans where so scared to go to hell they would do anything they could not to go there.The actions of the Puritans seemed to very strictly controlled by their church than our modern day churches. to me it seemed they believed that man had no power and God could kill them all when ever he pleased. I concluded that they thought more about of gods opinion than to live there lives without fear.
Diary Entry:
Today we all went to another long and fearful sermon. He spoke to us about how we should live our lives. He told us the consequence that awaited us if we did not act properly. He should what our god was capable and what hell he could bring on earth. This sermon has showed me the way of god and how to live my life with the fear of judgment day getting closer.
Huswifery
Response
In the poem that is constructed by Taylor, he turns to God to guide him into a virtuous life. Being such a life that Taylor will find hard at the beginning and easy at the end. Another important fact to note is that Taylor uses many metaphors to get his messages across within the poem. An example of a metaphor that was used in his poem was "Make me". This shows that the author is disparate to get gods approval and to enter into heaven. Such messages are symbolic to the human kind as each message symbolizes the virtues of Taylor. As I have just reached home to greet my parents, I have just finished a puzzling poem.
Diary entry:
Dear Diary Today is a day that I will treasure my whole life today I have made new friends including some Natives. Luckily I was able to learn a couple of words just from my first day with them. Besides this one of my new friends gave me a peace of paper and asked me to read it was called “Huswefiry” by Edward Taylor. I was thrilled that they asked for my help to read a poem. As I started to translate it I thought to myself what the meaning of the poem is. However I was able realize that Taylor conveys himself as humbled woman performing different types of activities around the house.In the poem Taylor asks God to guide him through the challenges of life. Which he knows will be rough because he is one of the first to live in the New World, I believe. Another thing I noticed was that Taylor used many metaphors to get his messages across through the poem. Some messages being symbolic to the man kind, like a robe. As I have just finished reading this poem I aloud I was able to inspire those fellow Indians to follow God and his wisdom.
Sincerely,
Peter Wicks
Of Plymouth Plantation
Neither could they, as it were, go up to the top of Pisgah to view from this wilderness a more goodly country to feed their hopes; for every which way they turned their eyes (save upward to the heavens) they could have little solace or content in respect of any outward objects. For summer being done, all things stand upon them with a weather-beaten face, and the whole country, full of woods and thickets, represented a wild and savage hue. If they looked behind them, there was the mighty ocean which they had passed and was now as a main bar and gulf to separate them from all civil parts of the world."
Response:
The Puritan came to America in search of a better life, a better future for their young taking a risk of never having what they did before. They gave up their former jobs and all its' comforts for the sake of their dream. Sadly for them they had to endured a horrid life by choosing to come to the new world. Every day was a fight for survival for them. They had no food to eat and no shelter from the biting cold and the storms that assailed them all too often. While suffering they had no intended to listen to others they wanted to survive on there own. Thus leading to endless war with the native Americans.
Diary Entry:
Days go by every one of them miserable and frighting. We have no shelter nor food, but the only thing we have is each other. Every day the Indians try to help us but we are strong and instead of saying not thanks we fight thus causing us to die off slowly. i hope the day will come when weboth can eat and drink together in peace.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
"The crisis" Thomas Paine
Favorite Passage:
These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine Patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that Stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
Logos, Ethos, Pathos.
Logos-Paine believes that the only choice is to deal with the problem, not to pretend that it is gone.
Ethos-Paine uses ethics, in the form of religion, using words such as god and hell. He uses these words to persuade the people that god is with them, and he is with them if they rebel.
Pathos-Paine believes passionately that his fight for a revolution because he uses word that invoke emotion such as glory, triumph, hell.
Reflection: It’s amazing what the first Americans had to go through. The author Thomas Pain exploits the harm that the British Empire has done to them, and what will come to them if they dont take action. I was able to determine the Pain used three points in his speech to incourage the People of the colony to revolt. They where Logos, Pathos, and Ethos thus using his logic, his passion, and Ethos.
Diary Entry: Wow, to day I just received The Crisis that our Famous Thomas Pain has wrote. He was able to give us hope that the rebellion against the Brits will succeed. He has told us there is not time to wait we Americans have to take action to protect our selves immediately. He is able to show us what the loyalist have done to us what will happen if we don't change soon
Sincerely, John William
Essential Question:
As my essential question mentions in "Give me liberty"the colonist are being denied there Dream because of the British. Thus causing people like Patrick Henry, to motivate people to fight for there dream causing a revolution with in the community. This same thing is happening in the Crisis.
"Give me Liberty" Patrick Henry
Favorite Passage:
This is no time for ceremony. The question before the house is one of awful moment to this country.
Essential Question:
As my essential question mentions what will happen to a community when the American dream is not attainable to all. In the Speech "Give me liberty" the colonist are being denied there Dream because of the British. Thus causing people like Patrick Henry, to motivate people to fight for there dream causing a revolution with in the community.
Logos, Ethos,Pathos
Logos- that he tells them that all wise men should be joining the revolution.
Ethos- by saying it is ethical for all to attain freedom. Patrick Henry particularly uses Pathos in this selection.
Pathos- speaking of ideas such as Patriotism, he also appeals to their religious emotions in his work.
Reflection:
Give me Liberty or give me death is written to inspire Americans to have a revolution against the British. He gave the speech in March of 1775 in St. Johns church in Richmond VA. Patrick uses strong words such as revolution and states that there is not time to waste so they must act quickly. I noticed his pride of being American and the emotion he but in his poem thus Saying "Give me liberty of Give me death". Thus meaning that he is willing to die for his country if we go into the war.
Diary Entry: Wow, to day in St. John’s one of America’s hero’s came to speak to us, his name Patrick Henry. He gave us a speech that has inspired us all to rebel against the Brits. He has told us there is not time to wait we as Americans have to take action to protect our selves immediately. So tomorrow me an some friends will begin to plan out plans to over run the British in Philadelphia. Sincerely, John William
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Revolutionary Essential question response
The Revolutionary period in American had changed the American dream literally into a dream. The American people where being dragged away from there dream by the British because they had made America a mercantilist colony. This making the American people work hard an receive nothing Besides becoming a mercantilist colony they also being taxed on causing the hope of the dream to vanish. But people such as Henry and Paine had shown the people of America that the Dream was not gone it was still hear but was hiding behind the British. Though the dream seemed impossible or unnecessary, which caused a little separation making two groups the loyalist who where loyal to the king and the Colonist who where the Rebels. Thus causing the colonist to revolt and establish there own dreams by creating the United States if America. However, our forefathers must have been very determined to achieve there dream because they took the risk to immediately create a new country called United States of America, which allowed us to be born free. Even though a couple of hundreds of years passed the political candidates of America show the similarities to those revolution inspirationists.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
American Dream Interviews
{Nena Lazaridis}
The American dream has changed, and those who seek it have changed. in the 60's Northerners Europeans came for a better life. More money work hard ,assimilate get an education etc. today we have a very small amounts of Europeans but more Latin Americans in the U.S. assimilation is challenged, education is not seek ed and different job opportunities.In the 70 and 80 people migrated for a better education opportunity to succeed America.
My parents and brother had to assimilate but luckily for me i didn't ( because I was only three and learned English as my primary language). US is my home.
{Nick Lazaridis}
When coming to America at the age of 16 I had only one American dream which was to finish a higher education before i reached the age of twenty eight. With my Family back in Athens Greece i worked hard for several years working and going to school. Finally the day came when i was accepted in Jacksonville University. There i still worked hard in school and at work and i was luckily enough to get a scholarship to NC State. there i was able to finish my Dream at the age of 27 I left N.C State with a PhD. But then a new dream came into the picture which was to get job in Cooperate America ( the Pharmaceutical industry) which will give me the Finical freedom and retire before i reach the age of 55. At the same time i have been able to grow a healthy family, and travel with them together in Foreign places. At the moment i have been able to complete 70% of my overall American Dream.
[Alexander lazaridis]
My brother has been able to start his American by completing high school he said "that currently i have only completed 10% of his dream but hope i will able to complete 30% before i graduate Collage."