Yearly Archives: 2024

I feel my Essay 4 was the most successful assignment this semester. I was able to create a clear thesis and effectively support it with analysis and evidence. I like argumentative papers more and having a different point of view and perspective on simple ideas. I think I could have done better with my prewriting process and organizing my ideas before diving into the drafting stage. At times, I rushed through brainstorming and outlining, which made it harder to stay on track with my arguments. If I had spent more time refining my outline and clarifying my points, it would have been easier to develop a more cohesive essay. The most important thing I learned this semester was how to integrate sources more effectively into my writing. Through practicing citation and connecting quotes to my argument, I became more comfortable using external material to support my points and enhance my analysis. This skill will definitely help in future writing assignments.

I think Emily Dickinson’s poem “The Wife” really shows what Raymond Carver means by “commonplace but precise language.” Carver talks about how everyday things can have a lot of meaning when they’re used carefully, and I see that in Dickinson’s writing. One quote that stands out is, “She rose to his requirement, dropped the playthings of her life to take the honorable work of woman and of wife.” At first, it seems like the woman is just giving up childish things to become a wife, but when you think about it in the context of the poem, it could be seen as sarcastic. The “playthings” she’s leaving behind might actually be important hobbies or relationships, but now she’s expected to put them aside for her role as a wife. The language itself is simple, but there’s a lot of deeper meaning when you look at the situation more closely.

My thesis for the research essay on fairy tales is that, while fairy tales have long been popular for their magical narratives, they can have harmful effects on children by promoting unrealistic expectations, normalizing violence, and reinforcing harmful gender roles and stereotypes. From List A, I would choose the article by Mary Howarth, “Rediscovering the Power of Fairy Tales.” What caught my attention in her article was her discussion of how fairy tales create a “fantastical reality,” where problems seem to be solvable through external forces, such as magic or outside intervention. This concept stood out because it connects directly to the idea that fairy tales can set children up for disappointment in real life when they encounter challenges that can’t be solved with magic/ From List B, I would pick David Isaacs’ article, “Sex and Violence in Fairy Tales.” His point about how fairy tales blur the lines between justice and cruelty really struck me. Isaacs explains that violence is often portrayed as an acceptable solution to problems, which can desensitize children to the real-world consequences of violent actions. This idea helps support the argument in my essay that fairy tales normalize violence and can influence children’s understanding of how to resolve conflicts.

Reading Flannery O’Connor’s The Element of Suspense really helped me catch things in A Good Man Is Hard to Find that I might’ve missed otherwise. For one, O’Connor used suspense to show the grandmother’s hypocrisy and self-deception. The way she manipulated her son and his family to get her way had me unsure of how things would turn out. Her self-righteous attitude was another layer she dressed like a “lady,” but it was just for show because, deep down, she was prejudiced and dishonest. The suspense got even deeper when “The Misfit” showed up after the accident. His talk about religion and his memory lapse about why he was imprisoned brought up some big questions about justice and punishment. It felt like he was wrestling with his own humanity, especially in his conversation with the grandmother. The ending was classic but unexpected, violent, and grotesque. It really hit home how brutal and complicated human nature can be, and how she uses those shocking moments to make her readers think. Without her insights on suspense, I don’t think I would’ve noticed how these elements worked together to make the story so intense.

I think I’ve gotten better at reading poetry over the past two weeks, but I still find myself rereading certain lines to really understand them. The older poems, especially ones like Shakespeare’s, are tricky because they don’t use modern language or sentence structures, which makes them harder to follow. At the same time, I think this has been good practice for reading Oedipus the King. For example, in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130: My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun, the line “I have seen roses damasked, red and white, but no such roses see I in her cheeks” doesn’t flow like modern writing. You have to slow down and really think about what it’s saying. Oedipus the King has a similar style, with complex sentence structures and formal language, so reading poetry like this has helped me get used to paying closer attention to every word.

When I worked on Essay 1, I realized I struggled a lot with balancing my analysis and just retelling the story. I kept catching myself summarizing instead of digging deeper into how things connected to my thesis, which made my argument feel weaker. Using pre-writing really helped me organize my ideas and get a draft going, but I think I got too stuck on following my outline exactly. Because of that, I ended up leaving out a few ideas that could have made my essay stronger. Another thing I noticed was that my thesis didn’t stay super clear throughout the essay. Sometimes, my points felt more like they were repeating details from the text instead of directly supporting my argument. What I learned is how important it is to stay focused on my main point and make sure everything I include connects back to it. It also showed me that being flexible with my outline can help me add better ideas as I go.

If I were to write an essay about The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara without focusing on the socio-economic stuff, I’d probably explore the symbolism in the story. For example, the sailboat at the toy store really stood out. It’s priced at $1,195, which shocks Sylvia so much she has to reread the price tag. Her reaction says a lot about her view on money and what it represents in her world. The boat could symbolize the gap between different lifestyles—who can afford something like that and who can’t even imagine it. It also ties into how Sylvia sees wealth and what it means to her. For a title, I’d keep it simple, like “The Power of Symbolism in The Lesson.”

The prewriting assignment is about analyzing a sample essay to see if the writer followed the guidelines for creating a strong essay. First, we read The Most Handsome Drowned Man by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and an analysis of it by Dean Rader. Then, we go through some PowerPoints, one about thesis statements and another on how to include quotes in a literary essay, which help us learn how to structure essay paragraphs. There’s also a video on formatting and an MLA citation guide to make sure we know how to format and cite sources correctly. Once we’ve gone through all that, we look at the sample essay and check if it follows the rules we’ve learned. The whole point of this is to teach us how to write better essays by understanding these key elements.

1. Which assignment do you feel was most successful and why? Essay #3, which focused on a poetry flyer and presentation, stands out as my most successful assignment. I believe this is because it resonated deeply with me, allowing me to express my personal connection to a poem that truly spoke to my soul. The assignment provided the freedom to unleash my creativity, and I thoroughly enjoyed designing the flyer to capture the essence of the poem. I was able to explore themes and emotions that touched me, making the entire experience not only fulfilling but also a true reflection of my artistic voice. 2. On what work do you feel you could have done better and how? Essay #4 did not reflect my true abilities. Unfortunately, my struggles with procrastination and poor time management significantly impacted the quality of my work. I found myself rushing through the assignment, skimming over important details and ideas. As a result, the final product lacked the depth and thoughtfulness I strive for in my writing. I wish I had allowed myself more time to really engage with the material and hone my arguments to match my standards. 3. If there was one thing you learned this semester, what was it? During this semester, I discovered a wealth of fascinating literature that opened my eyes to new worlds. Before taking this class, I had never explored the realm of poetry. Each piece I encountered captivated my imagination and ignited a deep curiosity within me. The rich language and intricate storytelling of the authors drew me in, making me eager to delve deeper into these genres and uncover the layers of meaning and emotion hidden within their words.

The assignment I found most enjoyable and successful was Essay 3, where we created a flyer on poetry. It was an exciting twist from the traditional essay. Allowing me to utilize my creativity and also familiarizing myself with Canva, this is a great assignment to work on. I also enjoyed  our reading of the Ancient Greek tragedy, Oedipus the King. A area in which feel  I could’ve improved, was on my writing of the essays throughout this semester. Writing is not my strong suit and is something I struggle with. However, I found the guidelines on quotation inserts and MLA structure formats to be very helpful when writing. One thing I learned this semester was the many pieces of interesting literature that exist. Prior to taking this class, I never explored poetry, Greek tragedies, or fairy tales. I was very captivated by the literature and authors, which I would like to explore further.

I feel that Essay 1 was my most successful assignment because it was easier compared to the other essays. In Essay 3, I had a hard time finding a poem that I liked and spent a lot of time searching for a picture. The most frustrating part was finally finding a picture I liked but forgetting to save the link. Also, I misunderstood the meaning of the poem. In Essay 2, I felt confused about how to approach the assignment, and for Essay 4, I started it late, so I didn’t do well on it. I think I could do better on essay 2. I will try to do the essay early, not start my essay at the end of the day. I will look at the easy 2 directions carefully. Also, I will write my essay more clearly by planning out my ideas in advance and supporting them with specific examples. This will improve and add detail to my essay. This semester I learn that I need to write my essays longer and with more thorough justifications. I also came to understand how crucial it is to thoroughly read the directions in order to adhere to the assignment’s criteria and prevent confusion. I also discovered how crucial time management is. I can avoid rushing near the deadline and give myself more time to plan, write, and revise if I begin my work earlier. I’ll be able to produce better essays in the future because to this.

The assignment I felt most successful on way essay 3 I felt like it was pretty straight forward and the fact that we got to choose our own poem and write on how we connected with the poem was very appealing to me. In most of my classes assignments are just handed out by teachers choice I felt like I could actually write about something meaningful and that I was passionate about. the work I feel like I could have done better one was essay 1 I felt like I didn’t really understand the essay to a depth and with I could have a better understanding till now but it just made me focus on reading things that I don’t normally touch on which if I went back and read the assignment and the stories I would have a better understanding. one thing I learned in this semester is to not be afraid to take on a task normally I put it off till last minute because I don’t understand it but if I sit there and put my mind to something I know I can accomplish anything.

1. Which assignment do you feel was most successful and why? I feel successful on Exam 4 because I truly enjoyed reading the fairy tale. It brought back so many cherished memories from my childhood, reminding me of how these stories shaped my imagination and curiosity. 2. On what work do you feel you could have done better and how? On Essay 1 and 2, I feel that I could have done better because I did not spend enough time on thoroughly reading and revising my content. Rushing through the writing process meant that my ideas weren’t fully developed, and I missed opportunities to refine my arguments and improve the overall flow. 3. If there was one thing you learned this semester, what was it? I think it was reading, Reading more and more is crucial. If you want to write a perfect essay, you must read the resources more than once. This ensures you fully understand the material, grasp the nuances, and uncover deeper meanings that can strengthen your arguments.

Reflecting on my journey, I can identify the specific pieces of work that were most successful: essays 2, 3, and 4. After receiving an F on my first essay, I took the feedback seriously and put in considerable effort to understand where I went wrong. By the time I completed the subsequent assignments, I was able to achieve a B-. This transformation demonstrates my growing ability to analyze and apply feedback effectively, which is a significant success. There are several areas where I can improve my work. While I progress in my analysis, I plan to structure my essay more effectively. That’ll help organize my ideas logically and enhance the overall clarity of my writing. A better organization will allow my arguments to resonate more powerfully with the reader. I will focus on revising my work to ensure I meet all requirements. This revision process will thoroughly review the content to align it with the necessary standards and expectations. Lastly, I will focus on including accurate citations for all sources referenced in my essay. This will ensure credibility and allow readers to explore the material further. Throughout this class, I have developed several skills that will be relevant in real-world experiences. Firstly, critical thinking has been emphasized through our discussions and assignments, allowing me to evaluate information and make informed arguments. I’ve also improved my research skills, learning to find and assess credible sources, which is essential in any field. The ability to accept constructive criticism and use it for growth is invaluable, as it is a skill that will benefit me in both academic and professional settings. I take pride in my progress and am excited to apply what I have learned.  

During the semester there were assignments and discussion board that we were asked to do. In some of them I did better and some less. I feel I was the assignment I was most successful is assignment 3. I feel like I’m a creative person and I like to do research. I enjoyed browsing poems and finding one i can relate the most both to the poem and the poet. I feel I could have done better in the fairy tails essay. I liked the fact that unlike other stories we read during the semester it reminded me my childhood. I had high expectations from myself and even though I felt connected to the assignment I could have put more attention to the small details. This semester I learned a few new skills. As a foreign student it is important to me to improve my reading, writing and critical thinking to be able and understand texts better. I mainly enjoyed the journey of learning how to write better and understand more subtle ideas in texts.  

The assignment I felt most accomplished with was Essay 3, where I designed the flyer. I loved the creative freedom it provided, making the entire process enjoyable and engaging. It gave me the chance to convey my ideas visually , and I was really proud of how it turned out. On the other hand, I think I could have improved on Essay 4. Even though I put in a lot of effort, I found that my explanations of the quotes could have been better organized. I had some difficulty linking them smoothly to my main argument, which affected the overall cohesiveness of the essay. One key takeaway from this semester is the importance of proper planning. I’ve come to understand how crucial a well-structured outline is for crafting a strong essay. While I’ve made progress, I know I need to enhance my planning skills to ensure my ideas connect logically next time. Additionally,I learn that writing essays more frequently will help me polish my style and increase my confidence. All in all, this semester has been both challenging and fulfilling, and I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned in the future.

I feel my most successful assignment was my final essay, Essay 4. While I am happy with the work I produced for the other three, Essay 4 stands out in particular because it was the culmination of my experience writing essays in this class. I had the most knowledge of what works and what doesn’t when going into Essay 4, and I believe it served me well. An assignment I could have done better on was the Week 11 discussion board. It had completely slipped my mind during the week, and unfortunately I submitted it a couple days too late to receive credit. If anything, it serves as a reminder to keep my assignment schedule and time management more organized. Something I learned this semester was that the amount of research and effort you put in will always be reflected in the work you produce. If you give an assignment your full attention and constantly try to one up yourself, you will feel much more fulfilled and stress-free when it’s time to submit.

Assessing my progress during the semester. 1.Reflecting on my performance this semester, i realize that none of my four assignments truly stood out as exceptional. While i aimed to deliver strong work, all of my assignments were somewhat mediocre. Even essay #3, which initially appeared straightforward, proved to be more challenging than expected. Despite my efforts, i struggled with organizing my ideas and adhering to the requirements, which prevented me from achieving the results i had hoped for. 2.Essay 4 stands out as the assignment where i could have improved the most. I finally managed to gather all the necessary information and structure it correctly, which was a significant step forward. I also has additional opportunity to incorporate relevant quotes, which should have strengthened my arguments. However, i still fell short of delivering the essay as it should have been. The main issues stemmed from lack of thorough proofreading and not fully aligning the essay with the expectations outlined in the guidelines. 3.The most important lesson i learned this semester is the critical need to pay very close attention to the essay guidelines. This includes understanding the specific requirements and ensuring my work adheres to them. Additionally, i have realized the value of revisiting my work multiple times-proofreading at least five times before submitting- so that i can catch errors, refine my arguments, and present a polished final product. This approach will help me improve the quality of my assignments in the future.

The most successful assignment that I completed was essay #3. The poem I used went well with the theme of my flyer.. I received a 78%, which is the best grade I got within all four essays and that tells me that poetry is my strongest suit. Reading about the author that I used for essay #3 was very insightful. Natasha Tretheway did a great job portraying her point through her poem “Housekeeping”. As the semester progressed, my work has gotten better. I could’ve done better on the quizzes. I missed a couple of quizzes because I wasn’t on top of my due dates. Also if I took my time with quizzes then I probably would get a better score. Some of the quizzes I was confident about because I knew the topic of the quiz, so I thought I would’ve passed based on my knowledge. I will make sure I am on top of my assignments from here on out. One main thing I learned this semester is writing in MLA format. In the beginning I had issues with work citing at the end of the essay. As the semester went on, my mind tapped into my high school English classes and my work has gotten better. Using citations n MLA form can be difficult when there are no directions. But once you learn how to use citations it get simpler.

I feel like I did the best job and was most successful on essay 3. I shocked myself by how creative I made the poem flyer, and I also was very satisfied with the grade I got from it. It was a fun assignment to do and I’d also say it’s my favorite assignment of this semester. I would say that discussion boards in general are work that I could’ve done better on. A few of them I didn’t do and a tiny bit of them I didn’t receive full 100% credit because I either didn’t respond to a student or I posted my discussion on the weekend. I’d say the main thing I learned this semester is how to really read poems and understand them. It’s kind of general but I’ve always struggled with understanding the true meanings of poems and this semester definitely helped me on that. I’d say I gotten better at understanding poems and being able to talk about them.

On Essay 2 I believe I have done the most out of other semesters despite that I did not do my first essay. Most of what my professor told me since the beginning of the class was that I put in present tense sentences when speaking of a quote, or connecting with the sentence that has the same tense. The thesis statement wasn’t hard to understand but I found less structural meaning of my first paragraph when I tried to mirror the thesis to the conclusion. I learned next time by increasing transparency and context to the sentences relating to my point, would my professor grade it at a higher than 85. Even if, my grade is good enough based of my educative and personal input of the subject. Last semester and the semester before, many of the students, even me, used AI for everything, and I of course mainly look up particular sources when looking for structure. Additionally I treated it as a fail safe search engine, while other people even use it 100% and had their sentences look like it was rushed, before coming in with a bad grade. Before I did not catch any patterns in between the real person’s speech and the one made by text generators, such as ChatGPT. And I figured that the tension of the neglected use of artificial intelligence can spell doom to real artists, construction workers, and even tutors and scientists. Essay #2 teached me further in fact that Professor Conway taught me a valuable lesson about education through challenges versus cakewalking challenges to bypass whatever mistake along the way can help you achieve whatever obstacles and cracks in the road. Like a smoked turkey well cooked under the ingredient of love, she allowed her words to be addressed flawlessly that […]

The assignment I feel most successful with is essay 3. The reason is I got to express a bit of my creativity when making a flyer about a poet and being able to do research and find copyright-free images for them. Then using the BMCC library to learn about the poet. The assignment I feel I could’ve done better was Essay 1. I should have been focusing and taking things slow on the content I was writing to make sure that I was aligning with the requirements of the essay rules. Next time when proceeding to write an essay on an evaluation I will need to read more carefully on what I write and make sure to read what I write. Then make sure to cross-reference each detail within the text.   One thing I learned this semester was how to cite when writing in MLA format. It never came to me how important it is to credit the author from where you pulled your quotes and to also give the exact day you accessed these certain sites where you pulled your cites from. Then the way to also write where the quotes come from.

I think the assignment I did best on this semester was Essay 3, where we had to create a flyer about a poem of our choice. Honestly, I enjoyed this project because it gave me a chance to be creative, which isn’t something I usually get to do in school assignments. I chose Robert Frost’s “Acquainted with the Night” because it’s one of my favorite poems, and I felt I could connect with it. Designing the flyer was fun because I got to think outside the box and find ways to visually represent the poem’s meaning. It wasn’t just about writing, it was about bringing the poem to life in a different way. I’m proud of how it turned out, and I think that’s why I consider it my most successful assignment. If I’m being honest, I think I could have done better on the Discussion Boards. Sometimes I felt like I put in enough, but I didn’t always get the grade I hoped for. Looking back, I realize that I might not have fully answered all parts of the questions or maybe missed some details that were expected. I also think I could have spent more time engaging with my classmates’ posts instead of just focusing on my own responses. I know now that I need to slow down and really read the prompts carefully so I can make sure I’m addressing everything. In the future, I’ll try to give more detailed answers and take the time to connect my ideas to the readings or class discussions. It’s definitely something I want to improve on as I move forward. One big thing I learned this semester was how to use citations correctly. Before this class, I always felt nervous about citing sources because I wasn’t sure if I was […]

The most successful assignment for me was essay #2. Although I found this essay to be somewhat challenging I still managed to understand the assignment because it was easy to explain how some websites don’t provide accurate information and if you don’t actually read the article your essay will now make no sense. Furthermore, using Chat GPT can lead you in the wrong direction when it comes to writing an essay about a short story because most of the times the AI is telling you to use these big words that wont make your essay better but it can make you seem like you’re talking “gibberish” because the essay doesn’t explain/cite anything correctly from the short story. Nevertheless, even though I am still not 100% good at it but this class taught me how to cite a text correctly in my essays. As well as knowing how to correctly flow when I’m attempting to cite so it doesn’t sound boring, eg: “The short story mentions …” However, I feel like I could’ve done better on essay #4, I didn’t take my time with that essay and I didn’t even realize that the paper was under the expected pages. Consequently, for the next paper I will intentionally utilize the outline to do my essay correctly and I will take my time instead of rushing to get something done on it’s due date. I genuinely enjoyed the transparency from Professor Conway the entire semester because it gave me the opportunity to challenge myself and get better with writing.

The assignment i feel was most successful has to be essay #3, I feel like I enjoy doing those types of assignments (flyers, posters). I had the option to do my own research and pick a poem of my choice. I enjoyed the freedom while learning and being able to be creative with some instruction. I feel like i could done better on essay #4, after reading your feedback and going over the directions I noticed that I didn’t have an ‘’yes’’ or ‘’no’’ opinion for my essay. I feel like I can do it much differently now and get a much higher grade. I must say I learned more about myself in this class. I learned how to cite work, I learned a lot more that my English 101 professor didn’t teach or request for us to do. I learned more on how I work better following outlines and directions even though sometimes, I have to admit I struggled at times.

The assignment that I feel was most successful was the flyer which I believe was essay number 3. I am more of a visual person, so this was by far the easiest assignment. The outline was easy to follow and meet. While having fun doing this assignment, I also learned a lot about poetry. I could have done better on the quizzes by double checking my responses and cross-referencing them with my notes and the material given. I could have also studied the material more intently to get a better grade. Coming into this class, I could say that I did not have much experience writing essays that had such a detailed and specific outline. At first it was a struggle because I felt like I was producing good work, but it just did not meet the directions. However, now I think having these outlines assisted me in producing work that is more focused, structured and organized. Because these are all great attributes of a good paper, I now appreciate this way of writing more. To summarize i learned how to write more structured, organized and focused papers.

Surprisingly, the first essay turned out to be the assignment I felt most confident about. This was largely because I was able to carefully analyze the instructions and grasp the multiple layers involved. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, allowing me to hone my critical thinking skills and approach the task with patience and focus. I was thrilled with the grade I received, as it validated my ability to interpret and follow directions effectively. On the other hand, the assignment I believe I could have improved on was the poetry poster. I overlooked the importance of citing the sources for the images I used, mistakenly assuming that free-use images didn’t require attribution. In hindsight, I wish I had taken the time to include proper citations, as it would have likely resulted in a better grade. One of the most valuable lessons I learned this semester was how to correctly use citations and incorporate them seamlessly into my writing. A specific takeaway was ensuring that both the sentences I write and the quotes I include are consistently in the present tense, which has significantly improved the flow of my work.  

One assignment I feels I am most successful in was creating the Poetry Flyer. The reason being because I got do my assignment on to research no copyright pictures, a poem and use the BMCC Online Library to get the author’s Biography and apply it to my flyer. Also, it was different form the regular essay. However, I think I could have done better in my essays and understanding the literary devices use in poetry. Writing essays in this course is completely different from how I normally write them. I should have tried to understand applying citation and in quote more and the various literary devices use in poetry. Trying to figure out the literary devices and interprets what it meant is one of the areas I need to work on. Also, one thing I learn this semester is the structure of a paragraph, applying quotes and citations. Also, writing thesis, researching primary and secondary sources to my essays was also a huge help. In would try to apply whatever I’ve learnt in this course to my essays going forward, especially in writing the thesis and paragraph structuring.  

In Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, the power of commonplace objects and situations is evident throughout the narrative, echoing Raymond Carver’s notion of imbuing ordinary things with profound significance. Oates masterfully uses precise language to transform seemingly mundane elements into symbols of deeper meaning and tension.  One vivid example is when she describes the main character, Connie, as she navigates the threshold of her home: “She was a pretty girl, but she had a nice, well-rounded figure and a good sense of style.” This line, while straightforward, captures not just Connie’s physical appearance but also the allure and vulnerability of her youth. The specificity of a “well-rounded figure” and “a good sense of style” elevates her character, illustrating the societal pressures she faces and the transition from innocence to awareness. As the story progresses, everyday objects and actions become laden with menace, particularly during Arnold Friend’s entrance. The door itself becomes a barrier, a threshold between safety and danger. Oates writes, “She was still too far away to see his face clearly, but she could see his clothes.” This simple observation transforms a common detail into a moment of building dread, where an ordinary interaction turns ominous.  Through Oates’ use of precise language, the commonplace aspects of Connie’s life take on a weight that enhances the story’s themes of identity, transformation, and the complexity of the adolescent experience. The seemingly trivial becomes powerful, echoing Carver’s insights into the extraordinary nature of everyday life.

Mathilde, the main character of Guy de Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace,” is presented using straightforward yet accurate language, which also shows her goals and death. From the start, Mathilde was described as someone who “was unhappy all the time,” thinking that, in in spite of her poor childhood, she should have a life of luxury. This text’s basic wording communicates Mathilde’s sadness and her obsession with money. She feels stuck in her current reality of “cheap” clothes and a “humble” life and longs for a life of beauty and improvement, which she believes would bring her happiness. The necklace is given a meaning through clear and straightforward explanations when Mathilde borrows it for a party. As “a superb diamond necklace,” the necklace itself symbolizes all of Mathilde’s desires which are beauty, richness, and a reputation. The tragic irony of the narrative is brought into focus by this ordinary item. When Mathilde loses the necklace and gets a real, pricey one in its place, her entire world is flipped upside down. The 10 years that come next, during which her family struggles to pay back the loan, are shown with honest reliability, highlighting how her need for wealth and looks causes her life to shift permanently. Finally, the sad irony and foolishness of Mathilde’s affection are exposed when it is revealed that the necklace was a cheap copy.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by W. B. Yeats is a short poem about a man who yearns for the peace and simplicity of nature. Yeats provides details as to what the speaker is going to do when he gets there. In Stanza 1, the second line, “And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:” The speaker plans to create a small home for himself. The use of the word small cabin to gives the impression that he is going to be the only one living in the house, without any family or relations of any kind. He plans to build the cabin from clay and wattles (sticks and rods). Once he’s living in his small cabin, he dreams of having “nine” rows of bean plants and a hive for, presumably, many honeybees, as in the next line, the glade (or small clearing in a forest), is filled with their sound.

When I think of something that holds immense power in a poem, I think of “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by W.B. Yeats. The introductory lines he writes that explain the glade’s scenery have a peace-inducing feel to them that entices almost anyone reading to want to stay in an area like it: “And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made: Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee; And live alone in the bee-loud glade.” A small cabin made from the local land, with a small garden of beans growing and a hive of bees being the loudest thing in the surrounding glade. It’s a scene many have probably seen, with some exceptions (such as not seeing a beehive but seeing a cabin), whether it be in their local woods as a child or on hikes that they may have taken later in life. However, the power of Yeat’s word and imagination can go farther than any experience one may have.

The short story “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” by Gabriel García Márquez in the passage described commonplace but precise language by interpreting the drowned man’s appearance in perspective of other woman’s view into a whole different person altogether. Here this story expresses the women of affection, of charismatic charm and naming of uncertainty they were holding inside their village. One of the women gazed to the corpse in curiosity, in her mind that “‘He has the face of someone called Esteban'” (Marquez, pg.2). On page 6, the author uses the word ‘knife’ in a harsh yet bold manner as to allow the readers in describing the tough stony fingers of the corpse man. Despite the local village and their customs, Marquez’s short story clearly followed Raymond Carver’s idea by emphasizing the commonality of the utensils in figurative speech along with the potential view using a common name to the readers.

In Flannery O’Connor’s story “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, simple and clear language gives deep meaning to everyday things. Raymond Carver once said that simple things can have great power, and this idea fits O’Connor’s writing well. For example, the grandmother’s hat is not just a hat—it shows how she sees herself and what society expects from her: “In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once that she was a lady.” This line shows the grandmother’s concern with looking proper and being respected, even in death. The hat, a simple object, reveals her vanity and focus on appearances. By the end of the story, when the grandmother faces her own death, the hat loses its importance. This shows the difference between her earlier pride and her final vulnerability. O’Connor’s clear, straightforward writing turns ordinary things, like the hat, into powerful symbols that add meaning to the story.                        

In Robert Frost’s poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” he really nails Raymond Carver’s point about how precise language can elevate everyday moments into something truly impactful. The poem captures a simple moment: a traveler pausing in the woods on a snowy night. Frost uses clear and simple language, yet it stirs deep feelings and touches on universal themes. The woods, the snow, and the serene atmosphere become something special thanks to his thoughtful word choices. For example, Frost writes, “The only other sound’s the sweep / Of easy wind and downy flake.” ( Frost). In this place, the ordinary sounds of the wind and snow gently falling transform into something magical and soothing, creating a vibe of profound quiet and reflection. The woods themselves, described as “lovely, dark and deep,” symbolize more than just a spot on the map; they evoke feelings of beauty, mystery, and maybe even the tempting idea of rest or escape. Frost chooses simple, clear words to give these objects a surprising strength, encouraging readers to think about the struggle between life’s demands and the pull of a peaceful letting go. .

In Guy de Maupassant’s short story ”The Necklace”, simple words are used to describe ordinary things, such as a necklace, an apartment, or a dress. These common items become very important because they are described in a compelling way. For example, when Mathilde Loisel receives the invitation to the ball, she dreams of having many things: “She dreams of big rooms with old silk, pretty furniture with many beautiful things, and small rooms with flowers, made for talking to famous men, the kind of men all women want.” Although these descriptions are simple, they are full of power. Through the precise language used to describe these everyday items, the story enhances the emotional resonance of her dissatisfaction with life. This story shows that even the most ordinary objects, when described with precise and expressive language, can be imbued with profound meaning.

In the poem The Mother by Gwendolyn Brooks she writes about her trauma with abortions in a very precise way, her style of writing definitely can give the reader that chill along their spine as mentioned by Carver. “I have heard in the voices of the wind the voices of my dim killed children. I have contracted. I have eased” (Brooks). As a woman who has experienced this trauma as well her words hit home. I’ve always wondered about the what if”s, if when I was younger and decided to go through with my pregnancy what would my life be like now. Also knowing that I’ve made the right decision because at that young age I wouldn’t have been able to provide for my child the way I can today. Nevertheless, precise language just gives off that “right to the point” kind of feel, as the reader we don’t have to try to figure out what the writer is saying when it’s written down in its rawest form. Furthermore, it also makes me have a “wow” moment when reading the short story or poem because it feels like it cuts deep and I am able to visualize what the writer is saying.

The story the most handsome drowned man by Gabriel Garcia Marquez shows various examples of commonplace but precise language because of the frequent use of descriptive language. For example, when the drowned man washed up to the shore, they explained briefly that there was no way the drowned man was from their village. “So when they found the drowned man they simply had to look at one another to see that they were all there.” (Marquez 2). Another example of the use of this type of language, was when the narrator was describing the state of the dead corpse. “Only his shape gave one to suppose that it was the corpse of a human being, because the skin was covered with a crust of mud and scales.” (Marquez 1). The use of common and easily understood language throughout the story helped me to paint a clear image in my mind of what the corpse may actually look like. Which helped me to understand the characters reaction to the corpse. The common place language in this story is extremely necessary and helpful seeing as this story contains strong aspects of magical realism which may be a hard concept to grasp.                      

In “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant, the necklace is more than just a piece of jewelry, it becomes a powerful symbol of Mathilde’s desires and the consequences of those desires. Maupassant’s approach to describing the necklace reflects what Raymond Carver talks about: how ordinary objects, written about with care and precision, can take on deeper emotional and symbolic meaning. At first, the necklace is described as “a Venetian cross, gold and gems, of admirable workmanship.” The language is simple and clear, yet it conveys the beauty and allure of the necklace in a way that feels captivating to Mathilde. To her, it is not just jewelry, it is the key to the life she has always dreamed of, a life of wealth, beauty, and admiration. For one night, wearing it makes her feel as though she belongs in that world. When the necklace is lost, its meaning shifts entirely. It becomes a symbol of the heavy cost of Mathilde’s aspirations. The years of hard work and sacrifice to repay the debt reflect the cruel irony of her pursuit of status. What seemed to offer her everything ends up taking it all away. Maupassant, like Carver, shows how everyday objects can hold immense power through precise and careful writing. The necklace is not just an accessory, it represents Mathilde’s dreams, her choices, and the devastating consequences that follow, all brought to life through vivid and simple language.  

I believe “The Wife” by Emily Dickinson is a poem that uses Carver’s idea of “commonplace but precise language.” Raymond Carver describes this idea as something that’s seemingly ordinary, but given its precise context and usage, suddenly holds a lot of weight behind it. A quote that I feel best matches this is when Emily Dickinson writes, “She rose to his requirement, dropped the playthings of her life to take the honorable work of woman and of wife.” On the surface, the quote seems rather straightforward. Without the context of the poem, it simply seems like the woman leaves behind unimportant and childish parts of her life when she gets married. However, given the context of the poem, the stanza can be interpreted as sarcastic. The parts of her life that are brushed off as “playthings” could be hobbies or people that are deeply important to her; yet, she no longer has time for them after becoming society’s ideal housewife. The words and phrases in the quote are fairly simple, but plenty of meaning left to be interpreted lies underneath.

In “The Necklace,” Mathilde’s use of descriptive language reflects Raymond Carver’s idea of giving commonplace objects immense power through precise expression. Mathilde, consumed by her longing for wealth and status, transforms ordinary items into symbols of grandeur. She describes a setting “lit by torches in lofty bronze sockets.” This imagery elevates the mundane, creating a vision of opulence and romance. The choice of “bronze” over simpler materials like pewter or silver conveys a sense of warmth and richness, while the torches’ flickering light creates an intimate, almost regal ambiance. These details reveal Mathilde’s yearning for a world beyond her reach, where beauty and luxury dominate. By romanticizing such objects, Mathilde projects her desires onto them, showing how her aspirations distort her perception of reality. This precise language not only enhances the narrative but also stresses Mathilde’s inner conflict and longing.

Gwendolyn Brooks’s poem “The Mother” powerfully demonstrates Raymond Carver’s concept of using straightforward yet precise language to give ordinary objects and experiences deeper significance. The poem centers on the themes of loss and regret related to abortion, conveying the profound emotional weight of this experience through simple, impactful language. One striking example from the poem is the line: “the damp small pulps with a little or with no hair.” Brooks uses precise language in this line to create a tender yet haunting image of infants. The word “damp” suggests vulnerability and fragility, while the phrase “small pulps” simplifies the imagery, establishing a raw and visceral connection to lives that were never fully realized. Brooks uses everyday language in the poem to convey the complexity of maternal love and loss. Phrases like “sucking thumb” and “gobbling mother-eye” introduce familiar domestic elements that resonate with readers while expressing the speaker’s intense emotions. These images transform ordinary realities into symbols of longing and sorrow, illustrating how everyday objects and actions can embody profound human experiences. In reflecting on the consequences of her choices, the speaker states, “Believe that even in my deliberateness I was not deliberate.” This line emphasizes the paradox of intention versus consequence, enhancing the poem’s emotional impact while keeping it accessible and relatable. By incorporating such poignant reflections into everyday language, Brooks deepens the poem’s emotional resonance and invites readers to connect with the complexities of motherhood and the haunting possibilities of what might have been.

The terror in Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” feels very different from the fear you get while watching a horror movie. I will compare it to my experience while watching Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.” Oates’s story is about subtle, creeping dread. Arnold Friend is not an over the top monster, it is unsettling because he’s almost normal. There are disturbing detail like his too tight boots or the way he seems to know too much about Connie. It’s the kind of fear that comes from the unknown. Who is he? What does he really want? The author never answers these questions, so your imagination does all the work, which makes it feel very personal and almost too real. In The Shining, the terror is more right in your face. Kubrick fills the screen with unforgettable, horrifying images; the blood pouring out of the elevator, Jack’s crazed face through the splintered door, the ghostly twins. It feels like the film grabs you by the throat and forces you to experience its fear directly. But even with all its big, scary moments, The Shining also digs into psychological terror, like Jack’s slow descent into madness and the suffocating isolation of the Overlook Hotel. It is intense and relentless; you are at Kubrick’s mercy as he builds the tension. I feel that the biggest difference is control. With Oates’s story, you set the pace. You can pause, reread, and let the dread simmer. With The Shining, or any other terror movie, you are there as part of the ride, and the director is not letting you off the hook or any breaks. Both terrify you, but in different ways.  

My thesis statement is the belief that a woman’s value is correlated with her physical attractiveness is reinforced by fairy tales, which also uphold traditional gender roles and beauty standards. List A, “Experts Say Fairy Tales Not So Happy Ever After” by Liz Grauerholtz stood out for its discussion on how fairy tales shape children’s perceptions of beauty and morality. Grauerholtz emphasizes how these stories associate physical attractiveness with goodness and success while linking unattractiveness with evil, creating harmful stereotypes. This resonates with the challenges young girls face in balancing societal beauty pressures with modern ideals of independence and confidence. List B, “The Pervasiveness and Persistence of the Feminine Beauty Ideal in Children’s Fairy Tales” by Lori Baker-Sperry and Liz Grauerholtz was fascinating for its analysis of how fairy tales like “Cinderella” and “Snow White”was intriguing because it examined how beauty is emphasized as being essential to a woman’s worth in fairy tales like “Cinderella” and “Snow White.” By placing more value on beauty than other attributes, this emphasis limits women’s prospects and upholds patriarchal systems. 

What is your thesis for the research essay on fairy tales? Identify one article from List A and one article from List B that interests you. Please cite the author’s name and explain which ideas from the article caught you attention and why.   I believe Fairy tales are important for children’s development as they encouraged imagination, teach valuable lessons and help them understands emotions. Fairy tales often involve magical elements, creatures and events that helps them think creatively beyond their everyday experiences. It also teaches morals such as bravery, honesty and kindness. “The Positive Impacts of Fairy Tales for Children” by Leilani VisikoKnox-Johnson, University of Hawaii and “Why Fairy Tales Matter” by Maria Tatar are two articles that interests me. According to the article: “The Positive Impacts of Fairy Tales for Children”, Jungian thinks that fairy tales teach children how to deal with basic human conflicts, desires, and relationships in a healthy way. She also thinks, “acquiring these skills can ultimately impact a child’s health, quality of life, or even influence its values and beliefs in the future.” This idea caught my attention because it helps children become aware of various moral values which are very important to everyday life. life. In the article: “Why Fairy Tales Matter” by Maria Tatar, demonstrates how fairy tale’s written language can spark a child’s imagination. This caught my attention because fairy tale helps children to have an active imagination.

I believe Fairy Tales aid in the development of a child’s mind. The article I read from List A was “Sex and Violence in Fairy Tales” by David Isaacs. While the article touches on how some older fairy tales have darker tones and hidden meanings, Isaacs states that they still carry important lessons for children. He believes that fairy tales help children digest new discoveries from the world and internal struggles. From List B, I chose “Tell Fairy Stories to Your Children” by Jane Stafford. The article makes it clear that fairy tales rely heavily on how the parent chooses to tell them. Things that could be considered negative are due to a poor choice/delivery from a parent. As for the fairy tales themselves, they can be used to strengthen the relationship between a child and their mother/father. As long as whoever’s telling the story follows the rules listed in the article, fairy tales can be some of a child’s happiest moments. These articles caught my attention because I feel they work hand in hand. A parent dictates if or how to deliver an element such as violence in a story, and can teach their child important lessons when doing so correctly.

My thesis as of right now is, Fairy tales are frequently criticized for their violence and gender stereotypes, they essentially help children because they build toughness, while teaching moral and ethical guidelines, and inspire their creative minds. As of right now I chose this as my thesis because in “The Positive Impacts of Fairy Tales for Children” by Leilani VisikoKnox-Johnson is one article from List A that grabs my interest. I was drawn to this article because it discusses the positive behavioral and growth impacts fairy tales have on kids. Visiko Knox-Johnson specifically addresses how fairy tales teach within kids the need of kindness and determination, two qualities that are essential components of emotional intelligence. According to the essay, youngsters can learn how to deal with challenges in real life by studying the symbolic struggles that fairy tale characters encounter.  While in List B, Maria Tatar’s article “Why Fairy Tales Matter” is my favorite from List B. Tatar provides an in-depth investigation of the reasons behind the ongoing cultural significance of fairy tales in her study. The claim made by Tatar that fairy tales give kids a safe and meaningful way to deal with challenging emotions like betrayal, sadness, and fear really caught my attention. Since they enable kids to comprehend and manage complicated emotions, she believes that these emotional experiences even the most severe ones are essential to kids emotional growth.

I believe that fairytales give children a misconstrued image of what is just and good. Fairytales rarely show the villains being punished for the bad stuff or the pain they have inflicted on others, which shows a disregard for justice. In the article “Sex and Violence” written by David Isaacs, something that caught my attention would be when the author mentioned fairytales being used to help children with sexual confrontation. “Some of the power of these stories may be that they help children confront and come to terms with their own sexual and aggressive thoughts and feelings” (Isaacs). However, I do not believe that this is the job of fairytales. Additionally in the article “Good and Bad beyond Relief” by Jerilyn Fisher and Ellen S. Silber, it mentions the absentee father never making an appearance. “The fairy tale father, oblivious to his child’s misery, never intercedes; nor is he reproached for being inattentive” (Fisher and Silber). This is something I noticed myself but never thought it was a big deal; so to see it written about in this way really piqued my interest.    

I believe that fairy tales are good for children because I strongly think they just understand that fairy tales are meant to be for entertainment purposes only and within the entertainment there is also a lesson to be learned within the story that can be applied to their real lives.    One article that caught my interest from List A was “The Positive Impacts of Fairy Tales for Children” by Leilani VisikoKnox-Johnson, University of Hawaii. The author mentioned “Fairy tales not only aid in child development, but they also offer a rich source of material to draw from in a therapeutic manner”. I think it’s super impressive that they can utilize the magic of storytelling to bring forth what emotions and feelings the child may be experiencing due to either a situation or a sickness.    On list B i chose “Rediscovering the Power of Fairy Tales” by Mary Howarth”. The author describes how much it benefits the children when they reinact some fairy tales. As a teacher, the author introduces the children to “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” and stated  “One common progression for the quieter children is to move from Littlest, to Middle-Sized, to Biggest Billy Goat. the children were able to play different characters and so through this method the teacher observed their progression.   

Why I believe fairytales are important, so let us just start here with “The Little Snow White” by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm for example. When reading the story, I notice that Snow White is a curious yet brave girl who ventured into the woods wen she was kicked by her father. Upon her adventure, the stepmother always watches her on every corner. This led to her unknowingly venture to trouble. She even got “killed” by eating a poisonous apple by a suspicious old hag. But by the end she had a happily ever after story while the stepmother , who tried to take the beauty away from her, danced into the bottomless pit. The benefit of fairytales to children is by granting them creativity as they learn and evaluate lessons from the whole story, and knowing that they can relate to Snow White being that they have a listening curve in a young age. And to relate with the stepmother since emotions can easily be expressed with jealousy and bad mishaps, so bad behavior can be avoided one way from reading fantasy novels. When it also comes to fairytales, children don’t have to be literal about what they view of. We imagining bad people as monsters, or the blue sky as another ocean, or the moon as… Well, a big ball of swiss cheese! Whenever fantasy comes to light in children’s minds, the sky’s the limit.

After reading the articles my thesis would be depending on how gruesome the fairy tale is I will determine if I will read the tale to a child. Especially from my perspective being a mother I would never want to read my child a book about sex or children being slaughtered. “Fairy tales give conscious expression to complex unconscious, infantile fantasies about sexual wishes, anger, guilt and fear of punishment within the family” (Isaacs).  Nevertheless, some of the Grimm brothers’stories have life lessons within them which I feel like they can be good for children depending on their age. For instance, the Snow White story by the Grimm brothers basically explained a scenario of “The boy who cried wolf” because she never learned a lesson until it was too late even after the dwarfs told her not open the door anymore. I have to do a more thorough research on the articles in list B, being transparent none of the options in List B caught my attention and some of the websites they popped up on didnt give me access to the full article. Works Cited: “Sex and Violence in Fairy Tales” editorial by David Isaacs, Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health

My thesis for the research essay is that fairy tales are harmful for children because they teach old ideas about beauty, gender roles, and what is right or wrong. These stories often make kids think that how they look is the most important thing, especially for girls, who are shown that being beautiful is the key to being valued.  From List A, the article I picked is Liz Grauerholz’s “The Pervasiveness and Persistence of the Feminine Beauty Ideal in Children’s Fairy Tales.” This stood out to me because it shows how fairy tales focus too much on women’s looks. I agree with her idea that these stories teach girls they need to be pretty to matter, which can make them feel bad about themselves if they don’t fit those beauty standards. From List B, I chose “Why Fairy Tales Matter: The Performative and the Transformative” by Maria Tatar. This caught my attention because it explains how fairy tales shape the way people think and act. I liked how she points out that these stories pass down old ideas about how boys and girls are supposed to behave, which don’t work in today’s world. Both articles explain how fairy tales can hurt kids by keeping old ideas about beauty and gender alive. I think these stories are more harmful than helpful because they teach kids to follow unfair rules instead of being true to themselves.

When I was young, I really enjoyed fairy tales. Although I no longer remember many of the stories’ titles, they still brought me a lot of joy. Perhaps my imagination and creativity also stem from the fairy tales I read as a child. I personally believe that fairy tales can not only be a part of a child’s happiness but also serve as an effective psychological therapy tool. As stated in the article by Leilani VisikoKnox-Johnson, “Fairy tales not only aid in child development, but they also offer a rich source of material to draw from in a therapeutic manner.” It seems that the author shares the same belief as I do. This is also supported by Jane Stafford’s article “Tell Fairy Stories to Your Children,” which says, “Fairy stories are important because they relieve a child of worries over mysteries which he cannot understand.” From this, it is clear that the fairy tales I grew up with have contributed to my healthy development.

I think fairy tales are bad for children because they promote unrealistic gender roles, prioritize beauty over character, and discourage independence and self-confidence for young girls.” From early childhood, girls are read fairy tales about princesses who achieve vast riches simply because their beauty makes them special.” – “Experts Say Fairy Tales Not So Happy Ever After” by Liz Grauerholtz in Purdue News. This quote by Grauerholz sticks out to me because often in fairy tales, the plot would revolve around the main female character that ends up being successful because she was simply pretty. It can promote a narrow idea about gender roles and stereotypes on pretty privilege to children. Second quote,” Beautiful girls are never ignored; they may be oppressed at first by wicked figures, as the jealous Queen persecutes Snow-White, but ultimately they are chosen for reward.”- “Some Day My Prince Will Come” by Marcia Lieberman, suggests that traditional fairy tales often reinforce the stereotype that beauty guarantees attention, value, and a happy ending, no matter what challenges the protagonist faces. Although these stories may seem harmless, they have deeper meanings that can negatively affect children’s understanding of self-worth, fairness, and success in life.

Fairy tales are essential for children’s development; they provide moral lessons, encourage creativity, and support emotional growth through the use of imaginative storytelling. The tales re not only timeless and entertaining, but also teach children valuable life lessons in a way they can understand and relate to. An article from list A that stood out to me is Leilani VisikoKnox-Johnson’s “The Positive Impacts of Fairy Tales for Children.” In her article, she explains how fairy tales help children distinguish between right and wrong while nurturing resilience in the face of challenges. This idea highlights how these stories, or tales, guide children in building strong moral foundations and better problem solving skills in an appealing and memorable way. From list B, Maria Tatar’s article “Why Fairy Tales Matter,” captured my attention and interest. The author emphasizes how fairy tales provide a safe space for children to confront fears and explore solutions. This perspective emphasizes how these stories can foster emotional growth by helping children process their anxieties and navigate their inner worlds. Fairy tales are valuable tools for both learning and personal development.

Imagine a world brimming with lessons, magic, and destiny, where possibilities stretch as far as a beanstalk can grow. In this world, heroes and villains come alive, whether they’re battling great evils, falling prey to poisoned apples, or witnessing beauty that fades at the stroke of midnight. I do believe Fairy Tales are for children because it teaches them important life lessons while sparking imagination and creativity. “The Positive Impacts of Fairy Tales for Children” by Leilani VisikoKnox-Johnson, University of Hawaii says “Based on the Jungian interpretation, fairy tales teach children how to deal with basic human conflicts, desires, and relationships in a healthy way; acquiring these skills can ultimately impact a child’s health, quality of life, or even influence its values and beliefs in the future.” As a child I always loved it when I read a fairy tale, it sparked my imagination and pulled me into the stories as if I were there, essentially the lessons learned through fairy tales followed me as an adult. In “Tell Fairy Stories to Your Children” by Jane Stafford she says “The fairy stories you heard when you were five or six played a big part in your development, bigger than you probably realized. Psychiatrists have traced the effect of these tales and find that their influence extends into adult life.” 

I don’t believe fairy tales are for children because the princess is always portrayed as being the most beautiful girl. She is only desired because of her physical attributes. She almost never possesses any brains to go with her beauty so she is always in danger needing a handsome man to come to her rescue. In 2024 I am teaching my daughters that beauty isn’t everything. You have to be smart and make decent decisions. Don’t wait on a man to come save you. “Fairy tales, which are still read by millions of American children, say it pays to be pretty,” Grauerholz says. “It’s important to understand the messages our children receive about traditional gender roles, especially during a time when women are encouraged to be independent and rely on their brains rather than beauty. (Liz Grauerholz, Experts say fairy tales not so happy ever after).It pays to be pretty is the part that stood out to me because that phrase is teaching children that beauty is all they need for success. I don’t like that narrative because pretty will really only get you so far. The feminine beauty ideal-the socially constructed notion that physical attractiveness is one of women’s most important assets, and something all women should strive to achieve and maintain. (The Pervasiveness and Persistence of the Feminine Beauty Ideal in Children’s Fairy Tales, Lori Baker-Sperry, Liz Grauerholz). This stuck out to me because again it is teaching women that they should rely on beauty and that it’s a necessity. It also reminds me of the short story that we read The necklace by ” by Guy De Maupassant because the wife was very much concerned with her appearances.  

Fairytales are not only good for children, but crucial for intellectual and personal development. The Positive Impacts of Fairy Tales for Children” by Leilani VisikoKnox-Johnson, does a great job in explaining how children can use fairytales to work through anxiety and trauma. As someone who is chronically anxious this resonates with me, it can be difficult to express what I am feeling due to burden, embarrassment, or guilt. In VisikoKnox-Johnson’s article, she provides an explanation of how children can resonate with a character based on experiences both the child and the character goes through. In Maria Tartar’s “Why Fairy Tales Matter” she discusses imagination, creativity, and intellectual development that comes from reading Fairy Tales. The curiosity a can have when reading words or phrases that aren’t typically used makes the child want to know what it means. A child can gain a higher quality vocabulary than through educational programming alone.

I think that fairy stories are good for children. They enrich creativity, educate children on right and wrong conduct, and offer them a platform to work out complex emotions. “One of the central reasons that fairy tales are important is that they aid in child development. Fairy tales are often shaped to test children’s initiative”.(p.77)- “The Positive Impacts of Fairy Tales for Children” by Leilani VisikoKnox-Johnson. Also “Acting out folk and fairy tales enables children to explore their developing inner selves, to take risks, and to exercise imagination and creativity”(p.62) – ” Rediscovering the Power of Fairy Tales” by Mary Howarth. The two quotes mentioned stood out for me, as they represent what fairy tales represented for me when i was growing up and later on I passed on to my daughter when she was growing up. To my understanding Fairy Tails are meant to be use for entertainment, educational and explorative purposes. Fairy Tales can teach our young once difference between good and bad, how to act, how to use manners and how to treat others.

The fear that readers feel in Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is more about the mind and emotions, setting it apart from the quick, shocking scares typical of horror films. Oates builds a sense of dread that creeps in slowly, focusing on the unsettling relationship between Connie and Arnold Friend. A key moment that highlights this psychological fear is when Arnold says, “I’m your lover. You don’t know what that is but you will.” This statement is chilling because it hints at something dark and predatory, as Arnold uses both charm and intimidation to manipulate Connie. The fear stems from what’s suggested rather than what’s explicitly shown, pushing readers to use their imagination, which can be even more disturbing than the graphic scenes in a horror flick. On the flip side, horror movies rely on visual and sound effects, like jump scares, creepy music, and shocking images to create quick, intense reactions. In contrast, Oates’ story immerses readers in a lingering, unsettling fear that digs deeper, rooted in the psychological games Arnold plays and Connie’s sense of isolation. In reading, this kind of tension really ramps up, as readers have to imagine the horror themselves, which often makes it strike even harder.

I believe that if I hadn’t read Flannery O’Connor’s article, I wouldn’t have gained a deeper understanding of A Good Man Is Hard to Find. The article reveals the darker aspects of human nature and the complexity of the grandmother’s character.

What specific ideas did you come across in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” that you would have missed if you had not read the article by the author in Activity 1? If I had not read the article from “On Her Qwn Work”: The Element of Suspense in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (Flannery O’Connor), two specific ideas I would have miss are dishonesty and selfishness. The article makes me realizes that the grandmother is selfish and dishonest. The grandmother deceives her son by making her grandchildren believes there was a secret compartment with hidden treasures because her son did not want to stop at the plantation. Due to her dishonesty, her family was killed by the Misfits. She is trying to save herself from dying by telling the Misfits that he is a good man, since she realizes that he kills her family. The Misfit knows that he is a not good man. He eventually kills the grandmother.

Reading the essay by Flannery O’ Conor before reading the actual story definitely helps widen your perspective of what the writer is trying to indirectly get us to understand when it comes to religion. If I’m being 100% transparent just like Flannery mentioned I would’ve definitely read it as a regular family of 6 who took a trip with their annoying grandmother to Florida that ended up getting murdered my a convict named the Misfit. Nevertheless, when you go back to the essay and compare it to the imagery within the story I can actually visualize what I’m reading as far as the grandmother not being ready for death even though she is sort of kind of preparing herself for it because she is becoming of age. I’ve managed to notice based on how she still tries to keep herself dressed to remain refined and superior, she continuously kept trying to manipulate her family to do what she wanted to do and not do things that they really wanted to do which drove them right to their death. Subsequently, when she goes more into detail and explains the significance of using violence in a story and the weight it carries to make you see a deeper meaning rather than just seeing it as violence helps dissect the main point of the story. “Violence is a force which can be used for good or evil, and among other things taken by it is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Flannery).

Flannery O’Connor’s article “On Her Own Work,” included in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” illuminates several important points that enhance the reader’s understanding. One specific idea is suspense, which is carefully developed through character interactions and a intense mood. This slow buildup of tension creates a sense of inevitable outcome that culminates in the pivotal encounter with the Misfit. O’Connor also highlights the complexity of her characters, especially the grandmother, who embodies contradictions. Her selfishness contrasts sharply with her vulnerable moments, making her both relatable and unsettling. The theme of moral ambiguity emerges as the Misfit’s philosophical beliefs challenge simplistic notions of good and evil. Additionally, O’Connor employs Southern Gothic influences, exploring complex themes like violence and redemption through grotesque characters and dark humor. The symbolic significance of objects and settings further enriches the story’s examination of identity and the search for meaning. These insights draw the reader deeper into the narrative.

Reading Flannery O’Connor’s article from Activity 1 really opened my eyes to the deeper themes and complexities in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” that I might have missed otherwise. O’Connor’s insights show how she skillfully builds tension through the interactions between characters, making the grandmother come off as both flawed and relatable. Her manipulative behavior, fueled by a need for validation, highlights important themes of morality and grace. O’Connor’s focus on foreshadowing adds suspense, with subtle hints pointing to the family’s tragic end, pushing readers to think about the characters’ motivations. The article emphasizes how O’Connor uses these techniques not just to engage readers, but to encourage some serious moral reflection. Plus, her use of dark humor and violence adds another layer to understanding the story’s themes. Moments like the grandmother’s last gesture towards The Misfit hint at grace and the chance for redemption. Without O’Connor’s thorough analysis, the complexity of the characters and the rich narrative might not have stood out as much, making the reading experience even more rewarding while highlighting her themes of human nature, morality, and grace.

Grandma, from “A Good Man is Hard to Find” can be seen through the lenses as a neutral character.  At the beginning she was being passively racist. She was talking to her children at the highway as she tempted to tell them that is now how African Americans dress like at her time; she explained it in a way she feels she wants their close people to understand her linguistics while using defamatory language to her kids. Modern day parents would take this as an excuse that I justify her bad tongue as a “good saint”. However, I feel that there are more differing sides to every story than only the good side and the bad side. Grandma had tried to help the man to see the light of God to; to bless him. Even if she failed to find the good man in the criminal, her intentions of showing him that there is more to life than loosing that chance to be good gave her a chance to express the morals to be better.

In “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” the author’s piece reveals a number of levels that strengthen one’s understanding of the narrative. While the grandmother’s last moments highlight the chance of forgiveness and cleansing, her portrayal as manipulative and selfish emphasizes issues of lying and moral insecurity. Southern Gothic details like ethics and decaying add to the story’s mood, and the family dynamics study shows how the grandmother’s actions cause conflict and detachment within the family. Furthermore, O’Connor’s use of sarcasm and prediction gives confusion, demonstrating that her story is an in-depth investigation of human weaknesses and the possibility of forgiveness rather than simply a straightforward story.

One key insight from O’Connor’s analysis is how effectively she builds tension through the complex interactions of her characters. Their actions and motivations reveal important themes of morality, grace, and human nature. The grandmother stands out as a flawed yet compelling figure; her manipulative behavior reflects her need for affection and validation, creating a character that elicits sympathy and criticism. This complexity, which I might have previously missed, is highlighted by O’Connor’s sharp observations and storytelling. You also get a better insight by listening to the author’s audio of the story. O’Connor’s use of foreshadowing hints the narrative creates a sense of impending doom. These clues prompt readers to examine the characters’ fates more closely, adding suspense to the story. Her insights also encourage readers to confront their biases and explore the characters’ motivations, enhancing tension and understanding of human nature and moral dilemmas. These elements enhance the reading experience, leaving a lasting impression. A key theme is the intentional use of suspense throughout the narrative. O’Connor illustrates how suspense not only captivates the reader but also unveils deeper themes concerning morality and the complexities of human nature. The strain in the grandmother’s relationships with her family and her eventual meeting with the Misfits highlights life’s unpredictability and the complex dynamics of human connections.

The article from Flannery O’Connor, on her own story “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” had one detail I didn’t think about regarding the Grandmother. She may be considered a bad person, even I considered her one, but she isn’t completely one. O’Connor mentions a time when a teacher was pushing the narrative that the Grandmother was a bad person. At her core, she is a good person but can’t understand some things, just like some older people now. It took her getting to what ended up being the end of her life to make a character-changing realization about her morals, but when she did she spread it to the Misfit, who had a seed of doubt, in what he saw in himself, planted in his heart because of her. Her actions and views aren’t right in the slightest, but that still doesn’t make her an outright bad person (especially with the somewhat redemption by the end).

The title ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find’ had me thinking I was going to read a story about a woman trying to find a man. Not realizing that “man” refers to a person or people in general. There was also some indication that the grandmother was a witch (and her cat) which I don’t think I would have gotten from the story at all. The grandmother was most definitely not a hero in this story. She was a master manipulator and extremely selfish. I was a little confused when she touched the Misfit on his shoulder saying that he was one of her children. She had spent the entire time trying to convince him that he was indeed good people. There was a battle of good and evil in this story and I believe that evil may have prevailed. I’m not sure how religious or spiritual the grandmother was. I think she was jus trying to talk herself out of being killed.

There were some ideas I came across in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” that I would have missed if I hadn’t read O’Connor’s article. Reading the article added more depth and allowed me to understand better the story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” One of the themes she highlights in the article is the idea of redemption. The grandmother’s last act of reaching out to The Misfit, can be seen as a moment of grace, almost like her last and final attempt to find some kind of redemption, even in a dark situation. The author also talks about how she uses dark humor and violence to reveal the truth about her characters. For example, the grandmother’s blend of kindness and manipulation, or The Misfit’s casual talk about life and death, although we might feel uncomfortable, it shows us who these people really are. The Misfit Is not just a villain, he is more of a mirror for the grandmother. He is forcing her to face her beliefs about faith and right and wrong. These ideas are examples of ideas I might have missed without reading the author’s article first.

A specific idea from “A Good Man is Hard to Find” that I would’ve missed if I hadn’t read the article was the idea of violence being used for a character’s “moment of grace.” Typically, I would expect violence to be used for an adrenaline-pumped action scene or a simple victory/loss. However, O’Connor says that violence is “strangely capable of returning (her) characters to reality.” It was interesting to see this idea fleshed out when I reached the end of the story, because it completely shifted my view of the grandmother. I viewed her as a desperate old lady whose biggest concern was her own safety; although, the use of violence gave her a moment of clarity that redeemed her. Being moments away from death, she finally felt actual sympathy for The Misfit, whereas before she was just trying to convince him to let her live. One would think she simply wanted to capitalize off The Misfit’s emotions, but O’Connor makes it clear that her final words were her genuine return to reality.

Even story’s title can have an influence on how a reader prepares for the story line. Before reading the story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, I expected to be a romance story, just from reading the tittle. Getting deeper into the reading, I was looking forward to a happy ending love story , since the grandmother was describing a gentleman that she remembers from her working days, who passed away a wealthy man and told a story of a mystery house with hidden treasure  ” she would have done well to marry Mr. Teagarden because he was a gentleman and had bought Coca-Cola stock when it first came out and that he had died only a few years ago, a very wealthy man”. Unfortunately the story does not end with happiness/love and discovery of the mystery treasure, it becomes a tragedy, ending in brutal deaths and agony. One unexpected decision in the story, altered the faith in the characters story life. I read the story twice and every time I had a vivid image of the kids being taking away to the woods, while seeing the parents fear and pain through their eyes. The grandmother on the other hand , did her best part to speak some sense into Misfit by using religious language and reversed psychology. One main specific idea, that I had to read and research after reading  “Excerpt from ‘On Her Own Work’: The Element of Suspense in ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find.’” was the part of the grandmother’s gestures. First gesture was “hands waving” after the accident that family just had, to attract attention of approaching vehicle, in which there were 3 man , whom one of them was her killer, Misfit. Second gesture was mentioned at the end of the story, […]

When reading the excerpt “On Her Own Work”, O’Connor brought up the idea of the Grandmother being viewed as a witch. I would’ve never thought about that, while this story has a lot to do with the concepts of good/evil and religion; I began to think about the idea of the supernatural. We have the Grandmother almost prophesizing her and her family’s destiny before the trip even begins. The Grandmother talks about how The Misfit escaped jail and how they would be better off going to Tennessee and then you have the kids making jokes about how they would react if they were faced with the bandit. While I am not a religious person I am spiritual, so having this comparison of the witch and destiny makes me more interested in the story; leaving it to only the view of religion makes me question God or Jesus. This makes me think about the Misfit’s mindset of a person who feels undeserving of his punishment, a man wronged by God and now being faced by a woman who still calls him a good man after killing her family. Had I not read the excerpt I would’ve never thought about the idea of destiny but rather coincidence.

If I did not read the article “Excerpt from ‘On Her Own Work’: The Element of Suspense in ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find’” I would likely have overlooked several critical aspects of the narrative. The author’s insights reveal the intricate layers of the grandmother’s self-deception, particularly how her superficial understanding of morality leads her to justify her flawed decisions. For instance, she often presents herself as a genteel lady while manipulating her family to get her way, highlighting the contradictions in her character. Moreover, the portrayal of the Misfit challenges the conventional notion of a villain. Instead of being merely evil, he is depicted as a character grappling with existential questions about morality and existence. His dialogue with the grandmother reveals his deep internal conflicts regarding good and evil, prompting me to consider the complexities of human nature. This nuanced characterization pushed me to reflect on my own moral ambiguity and the challenges of distinguishing right from wrong in a complicated world.

There are a lot of things I would have missed if I had not read the excerpt from activity one. The theme and plot of the story isn’t linear. So, without the excerpt I believe I would find many of the scenes disjointed or confusing pertaining to where the author is trying to take the readers in this story. The specific idea would be the grandmother being recognized as the “Heroine” and the misfit later on in life, going back to Jesus and becoming a prophet due to the grandmother’s words. She played a part in saving the misfit and what she said to the misfit before getting shot aided him in choosing a better life. Additionally, I would have thought that whatever the grandmother was saying was ineffective because he still shot her. But maybe he shot her because her words were having an effect on him and shooting her was his only defense against those words. I believe I would not have been able to pick up on these ideas by simply reading the story on its own without the excerpt.

I have to admit that I love poetry now a lil more than I did before these past two weeks. When I read and visualize and just put all my focus into each and every word while adding imagery to it in my head it comes to life more. I never understood it like I have in the past two weeks. Learning to take my time to read how powerful just one line can be. I’ve always loved music for this reason so reading poetry now kinda gives me that same feeling.  I feel I can read into Oedipus with more confidence and comprehension because of my experience with poetry in the past two weeks. I know that while reading Oedipus I have to keep in mind that the era is different and where the play takes place helps understand more of what is taking place.   

I think that after the past two weeks of reading and understanding poetry, I would rate myself a 6 out of 10. I feel that I have made some progress in my ability to grasp metaphors and meanings in poetry, which has also helped me with reading *Oedipus the King*. I have read Robert Frost’s *Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening* several times and believe that both works share themes of responsibility and choice. In Frost’s poem, he writes:“The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.” Here, the poet faces the temptation to remain in beautiful nature but realizes he still has a long way to go. Similarly, in *Oedipus the King*, Oedipus faces a tremendous inner conflict while pursuing the truth. This understanding of responsibility allows me to feel more deeply Oedipus’s pain as he discovers his fate. Overall, although Frost’s poem is short, reading it multiple times has helped me explore the themes, characters, and emotions in *Oedipus the King* more deeply, enabling me to better understand the richness and significance of this classic play.

After the past two weeks, I think my ability to read poetry has improved a lot than before. I am able to have a deeper understanding of the words or sentences in the poem. This helped me to understand what the poem, “Oedipus the King”, is talking about. “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot exemplifies the loneliness and existential dread that can resemble Oedipus’s voyage. As Oedipus faces his destiny and the revelations of his past, so too does Prufrock struggle with identity and fears. Prufrock’s hesitation and contemplation mirror Oedipus’s terrible discovery of his previous deeds, as both works explore the human condition. Just as Sophocles uses tragic foreshadowing and dramatic irony, Eliot uses vivid imagery and stream-of-consciousness to deepen emotional depth. Similar to Prufrock’s sense of alienation in a busy world, Oedipus experiences growing solitude as he learns difficult realities about who he is and the repercussions of his choices. This comprehension of the emotional facets of poetry will improve my reading of Oedipus the King by enabling me to more fully appreciate the subtleties of subject and character.

Before exploring poetry in class, I never truly sought it out. However, within the past few weeks, I’ve come to realize how deep and beautiful it is. My ability to now read poetry is stronger than it was before, I’ve developed a clearer understanding of what poetry is and what it isn’t. My experience and understanding of poetry now can help me better understand Oedipus The King in ways such as the way it is structured. It is also full of literary devices, one being metaphors. “The Lake Isle of Innisfree”by William Butler has the strongest connection to the play. Butler emphasizes his desire to escape to a calmer place, and his quest to find peace similar to the kings desire to find the truth.

Over the past 2 weeks, I’ve gotten a bit better at reading poetry. At first, it was a tossup for me, sometimes I got it, and other times it just went over my head. But now, after reading more, I’m starting to get the hang of it, even if I have to read some poems a few times to understand them. When I started reading ” Oedipus the King”, I noticed the strong emotions between the characters, like betrayal, revenge, and suspicion. It was pretty intense, I felt really bad for Creon because Oedipus accused him of plotting against him without any real proof, and he was sentenced to death instead of banishment. That seemed crazy. A poem that reminds me of “Oedipus the King” is “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. Both the poem and the play are about making choices and discovering. In the poem, the speaker talks about choosing a path and how that choice made a big difference in his life. It’s kind of like how Oedipus decided to find out the truth, which led to a revelation.

Poetry is not really my forte. However, my ability in reading poems have improved a little. I can identify some of the literary devices use and tries to understand what it means. I enjoy reading poetry even though I cannot grasp what it means.  Poetry in my experience can help with the reading of Oedipus the King by understanding it’s structure and literary devices use. Poetry also allows the readers to engage more deeply with the themes such as fate. The poem ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by W.B Yeats resonates with the play Oedipus the King. Both explore the desire to escape from reality. “I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:” in The Lake Isle of Innisfree by W.B Yeats. In the poem, the speaker longs for peace in nature, while Oedipus tries to escape his tragic fate. 

After two weeks, I gained a better understanding of poetry. I’ve realized that poetry requires multiple readings to grasp its essence fully. I now understand the importance of reading a poem aloud, as the lines’ meaning, sound, rhythm, breath, and typography are all significant. Reading different types of poems throughout the weeks has helped my interpretation of “Oedipus the King,” enabling me to connect the emotional experiences in poetry and the themes explored in the play. In “We Real Cool,” Gwendolyn Brooks portrays the rebellious and bold nature of young people as they embrace a risky lifestyle. The poem’s rhythm and repetition highlight their audacity and suggest the potential consequences of their choices. The last line, “We die soon,” is a reminder of life’s fragility and the inevitable outcomes of their actions. This theme of youthful arrogance is reminiscent of Oedipus’s tragic flaw, pride, and determination to challenge fate. Oedipus’s statement, “I am the one who solved the famous riddle,” reflects a similar sense of pride and defiance in the face of destiny, ultimately leading to his downfall.

Over the past two weeks, I’ve become more comfortable with reading poetry. I’ve learned to notice the layers of meaning in the words and understand the emotions behind them. This skill has helped me approach Oedipus the King with a new perspective. The play, like poetry, uses symbolic language and explores complex human emotions, and now I feel more confident in breaking down these elements. My experience with poetry has made it easier to grasp the deeper themes in the play and pay closer attention to how the language conveys Oedipus’ tragic journey. The more I proof read, the more I understand what the poet is talking about. The more I feel empathy for the writing, the more I feel connected to the story and meaning behind it. One poem that stands out to me is Emily Dickinson’s “Because I could not stop for Death.” In this poem, death is personified as a calm, inevitable force, one that comes for the speaker whether she is ready or not. This reminds me of Oedipus’ struggle with fate. No matter how much he tries to escape it, his tragic destiny is inescapable. Both the poem and the play highlight how powerless we are against certain forces in life, whether that be death or fate. What I find interesting is how Dickinson’s calm acceptance of death contrasts with Oedipus’ various attempts to avoid his fate. In the end, though, both the poem and the play show that resistance is futile. This connection has helped me better understand the themes in Oedipus the King, especially the tension between free will and fate. Through poetry, I’ve learned to appreciate how writers use language and imagery to explore these universal truths, which has deepened my reading of the play.