Yearly Archives: 2024

I haven’t thought of any ideas at the moment, but looking a the essay 4 directions I’m thinking it will focus on the fact that there is only one parent figure instead of two. I feel like this topic interests me because I’m thinking about how things might be different if both parents were present instead of one since both parents have their ways to do things differently. I’m not sure which fairy tales I might include but I think I have something in mind. I haven’t found any useful articles on the BMCC library database or online just yet because I haven’t done my research yet, but I will look into that right now to have a better plan on what I’m going to write about. This essay is based on research so I need to start doing a lot of research to support the topic I’m thinking about writing.

An aspect that I want to talk about in my research paper is the elements of feminism and moral lessons. I want to discuss this topic because to morals lesson was and still is unclear for children. For example in my preteen years I learned that the fairy tale Jack and the bean stalk was basically about doing what your parents tell you to do or you might have negative experience or outcomes from your actions. I did not know that when I first heard the story around the age of five or six. I think it was just about a young boy taking a trip to a magical land with a giant. Another example of a moral lesson that was unclear but is the same moral lesson of Jack and The Bean Stalk is Little Red Riding Hood. I think this message was unclear due to so much attention being put onto the world of the fairytale instead of the lesson,

Some possible ideas I have about my paper is potentially writing about the fairy tale of Cinderella, and  the princess and the frog. The reason I chose these 2 fairy tales to specifically include and talk about is because there’s been many interpretations and adaptations to Cinderella so I would want to give my own opinion on it. And for princess and the frog I feel its quite the opposite even though there’s still lots of hidden meanings and interesting topics in that fairy tale as well. So far I havent found that many articles in the BMCC library data base that really relate to the topics I’m discussing

As a little girl and even a bit older, I’ve always loved fairy tales. It takes us on a magic carpet ride and makes us think wow I wish I was the princess, and the handsome prince will save me.  The princess always gets her man, and the endings are always happy, well at least the poems I have read. The original Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales aim to teach important morals about life, and I enjoy reading them. think I will be writing my research paper about how fairytales often show that parents are missing in stories like “Snow White” and “Hansel and Gretel”. This shows situations where parents are not there when they are really needed.  I want to explore the psychological reasons behind this in fairytales.  While I search for a good article to support my ideas on the BMCC database, I am also thinking about using another fairytale to strengthen my arguments.

I believe that for my research paper I would try to focus my thesis about how fairy tales often describe the absence of parent’s figures. Fairy tales like Snow White and Hansel and Gretel reflect how parents are absent in situations that they were most needed for.  I will try to drive my research on the psychology view of this topic to try to make a deeper analysis of fairy tales. I was looking for a good article to support my arguments. However, I haven’t found the right one yet. I’m going to do a little bit more research on the BMCC database to find an article that can support my thesis. I believe that as I mentioned before I would include Snow White in my paper. I’ll probably pick another one but I’m still thinking of which one. I would come up with another fairy tale to back up my points. 

Fairytales has always been a little girls dream. Since I was little every fairytale I had heard of and watched was about these princesses meeting their Prince Charming but always had an evil person trying to stop them. I remember fairy tails have always been sweet and heartwarming. This week we had read the original story of snow white. In what I remember snow white is this beautiful princess who had a step mother that had been jealous of her beauties, ends of poisoning her daughter and only can be revive by a kiss from a prince. Reading the original really surprised me, I was confused on how was this fairy tale made for kids. It made me rethink about all the original fairytales stories, most stories are very gruesome for children to be reading and hearing about. What really caught me off guard were reading that the evil stepmother thought she was eating parts of Snow White to get beauty into her. `

In this week’s reading, my attitude & view on fairytales have changed. This week’s reading of Snow White has brought back the magical story telling of this classic. The fairytales for this week has returned that joy & excitement that I have had when I was a kid hearing these classic fairytales. While reading “Little Snow White” by Brothers Grimm, it gave me a new view in the story of Snow White. In the reading, I was not aware of how Snow Whites stepmother was obsessed with beauty and herself. In the reading the stepmother created multiple attempts to kill snow white. However in the movie’s we know that Snow is just poisoned by an apple and then is awakened by a kiss from a prince. Also, from the reading “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” the ending was a dark and grim ending that I never knew. Snow White’s stepmother has cruel ending of having to dance in red hot iron shoes until she dies. A cruel but fitting ending for her stepmother so bent on her on fading beauty, that she will try to kill her stepdaughter. This weeks reading of fairytales have shown me that not all fairytales have happy endings.

After reading fairytales this week, my view on fairytales have completely changed. I always thought that fairytales were all nice, sweet, and with happy endings, like the ones you grow up with either reading or watching things on TV like Disney. After the reading, I began to look more and more for the origins of fairytales and found that many of them originally were more creepy horror stories that were told. A good amount of fairytales (and majority of cartoons that are for kids) originate from the Grimm stories. When I was a child and had seen/read snow white, I though of it very innocently. However reading it as an adult made me realize just how dark the “fairytale” really is, and how the message behind it can connect even into real life.

After reading fairytales this week i’d say that I think deeper below the surface when reading fairytales especially after we read Snow White and Hansel and Gretel. I feel like reading the analysis for these stories opened my eyes and made me realize most fairytales are gruesome or contains a child worst fear such as starvation and abandonment. I also think after reading these analysis that show the grim realities taught me another level of discernment when it comes to reading nonfictional books and fictional books. It’s made me appreciate the depth of these stories and the important messages they convey about human nature and the challenges we face, even from a young age.

my thoughts on fairytales after the reading this week have changed. before the reading in class and also in general I thought fairy tales were cute and innocent stories for children to look at. However, after doing some research on my own and also readings in class I found that these stories are a bit dark or at least have a darker origin and contain a lot of things that wouldn’t be ok if told and promoted in media now. for example when reading the snow white story it was mentioned that for revenge snow white and the prince made the evil queen dance with hot shoes on until she died.in terms of things being unacceptable by today’s standards in the story snow white also mentioned that the prince wanted to take snow white back with him despite not knowing her. noticing these things in the story made me think about how many other stories have weird or dark origins and how they have changed the stories to make them more marketable for today’s standards.

The Grimm Brothers’ “Snow White” gave me a valuable viewpoint on the fairytale. When I was younger, I read Snow White and saw the movie, so I saw it from a different angle. It used to seem like a sweet fairytale to me. Growing up, though, and rereading works by both familiar and new authors. It seems to provide a message, that much has been observed. For instance, the stepmother hurts Snow White because she is envious. It also demonstrated the gullibility of some people, as Snow White was one example. Despite the fact that she fell into the stepmother’s trap three times, she gained insight from it. It also demonstrates the father’s absence from it. The father is never mentioned in the fairytale or seen to be shielding her in any way. The prince was the only reason she felt safe and was able to flee. Overall, this helped me grasp deeper and various points of view.

after reading this weeks story’s I’ve had a shift in my perspective on fairytales, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Initially I saw the story as a tale of good versus evil influenced by what I’ve seen in media.. Upon inspection of the text and extra materials I discovered deeper layers of meaning. In “Snow White ” I now see the power dynamics and gender roles at play along with the complexity of characters such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Of being passive characters they serve as nuanced reflections of human nature and societal interactions. Themes like jealousy, vanity and the quest for power carry weight now offering insights into common human experiences. Furthermore exploring critiques and symbolic analyses has broadened my understanding of the story’s historical context. This has deepened my appreciation for its lasting relevance. Overall this weeks readings have expanded my admiration, for fairytales by showcasing their ability to convey themes and moral lessons through storytelling and symbolism.  

After reading Snow White and many fairytales my perspective of fairytales did change . I say this because when I was young I didn’t really know any better I thought fairytales were really supposed to be about getting the life you always wanted to live or being happy or getting the husband that you always wanted  . After reading Snow White again I realize that it just shows you how people become jealous & envy you because of who you are . Snow shots never asked to be prettier than her stepmother that’s just how she came out and what her mother prayed for basically . The evil stepmother just said wanted to be what she couldn’t be and she need up killing off Snow White so that she can feel like she had all the power and beauty . She may have wanted to have beauty but she will never have that because she wasn’t a great person which made her ugly in the inside and the outside .

Reading Anne Sexton’s “Snow White” challenged my view of fairytales. Unlike the happy cartoon, Sexton’s poem focuses on the Queen’s obsession with beauty, fueled by the magic mirror. The constant pressure to be “fairest” makes the Queen cruel, and Snow White’s innocence is described in a way that feels strange. This darkness made me view fairytales in a less childish light and it makes me wonder if fairytales, like maybe even “Bluebeard” where a wife disobeys and gets killed, are more about warnings and social norms than happily ever afters.

I think my attitude toward and about fairy tales have changed as a result of this week’s reading from playful, harmless and nostalgic to questioning, curious and deep in thought. For example, the snow-white fairytale that I think everyone saw at least once from Disney was nothing compared to the one we read in class by the Brothers Grimm. The one from Disney was very lighthearted and your ideal happily ever after. The beautiful princess finds her prince charming, and the little dwarfs were like her cute mini uncles or fairy godfathers. Now comparing that with how the Brothers Grimm portrayed the princess as very naive and what one might say a bit foolishly brainless. The prince was in some way her prince charming but fell in love with her looks instead of for who she is, and technically in the Disney movie he was the same but they kind of brushed over that part. The dwarfs in the story were kind of interesting, at first it seemed like they just found themself a free maid and then they seemed kind of caring like family but toward the end they threw me off when they were GIVING snow whites, what they thought at the time was a dead body to the prince. In the Disney snow white they were so much nicer. Now if you watch those Disney movies again you see how weird the whole concept is. When we were children, we were like snow white very naive, but as we grew older, we realized life is like the poison’s apple. It might seem very perfect and carving at first glance, but it can easily harm you with secret intent. Overall, my attitude about fairy tales have changed through this week’s reading to now looking into every detail. I […]

When I used to read fairy tales when I was younger, I thought it was stories about fantasy, magic, happiness, etc., after reading this weeks story’s gave me a different outlook of what fairy tales can be about. I learned that fairy tales can teach lessons to it readers. After reading “The Little Snow White,” I want to go reread all of my childhood favorite fairy tales to get a new perspective of them as an adult. I thought the fairy tale story of “Snow White” was basically about a princess with a evil step mother and sisters and navigating life through that, but in this week reading “The Little Snow White,” The fairy tale is actually about toxicity, coming of age, and jealousy. In the story the queen was becoming older and her beauty was not enhancing with age so she became jealous of Snow White who was young and her beauty was growing more and more everyday. Snow White ran away after the abuse from her evil stepmother and had to essential grow up due to being saved by the price. To me this can also be reality for some women due to Snow White having issues with her step mother that girls/young women face today with their mother/ step mothers.

Hello professor. After this week’s readings, my attitude towards fairy tales has dramatically changed. Thanks my childhood is ruined . lol. After reading ” the Little Snow White” by Brothers Grimm, it completely changed my perception of the whole story and of any other childhood stories that I have previously read.. I don’t generally like to alter my way of thinking or my reality when it comes to things like this because that it what starts trust issues. Now, whenever I read something I am going to question the fact if there is an alternative motive behind the whole thing. In the story “The Little Snow White”, the queen was mean and vulgar,  I can not imagine how this is ever and still is a children’s fairy tale book. What really stood apart from the story to me is the queen requesting a bodily organ of Snow White, but it doesn’t stop there. Her intention to engage in cannibalism was the icing on the cake for me .

My perspective on fairytales, has always been a simple story with imaginative charthat kids enjoy. In this week my opinions about fairy tail is changed after reading,especially the Snow White narrative, has undergone significant change after engaging with this week’s readings. Initially, I perceived it as a simplistic tale of good versus evil. However, through feminist analyses, I now understand it as a more intricate story highlighting societal pressures and power dynamics. The jealousy of the Evil Queen reflects deeper themes such as beauty standards and women’s challenges in patriarchal societies. Furthermore, exploring Snow White’s agency and resilience has shifted my view from seeing her as a passive victim to recognizing her inner strength. These readings have transformed fairytales like Snow White into complex narratives that shed light on societal norms, gender roles, and human resilience. They have deepened my appreciation for the richness and multifaceted nature of these classic tales.

Before i just to think fairytales are simple stories for kids with important messages for a good behavior. But after reading “Snow White,” my perspective changed slightly, I realized fairytales can have deeper meanings that can be useful for adults like the psychological topics of the stepmother’s actions. The focus on beauty in the story also highlights the message for society including me. the poisoned apple can be a reference of religion of Eve and the apple. One of the ending showed me that not all these stories have a happy ending as the slow death, this readings can contain darker themes and messages beyond just happily ending. These readings didn’t change a lot for me as I’ve noticed these deep messages throughout my life in various aspects like social behavior, personal reflection, movies, trends, and daily experiences. These readings serve as a clear reminder of the deep messages I’ve experienced before and present showing that such meaning can be found in each of us and our behaviors.

My attitudes about fairytales has changed as a result of this week’s readings because as far as I know every fairytale has a happy ending, but now reading the snow white stories it opened my eyes on how the story ended. The story ended by giving the queen a slow death making her dance until she died. Another thing is beauty, I didn’t really worry about this that much, but now that I’m older I feel like their making it seem like beauty is all that matters when that shouldn’t be the case. My attitude changed based on how the story ended compare to the child’s version because it’s supposed to be a fairytale for kids. I will start seeing fairytales in a different way because apparently some endings are different than the happy ending. My attitude towards fairytales won’t ever be the same as my thoughts about fairytales has changed.

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” by Anne Sexton offers a unique and often darker perspective on fairy tales. It challenges the traditional portrayal of princesses and explores themes of power, gender, and identity. Sexton’s retelling adds depth and complexity to the story, prompting readers to question the traditional narratives and societal expectations that go with fairy tales. It changes my attitude by making me see these stories in a new light. Also, Sexton’s retelling invites me to see fairy tales as our own lives within them. It is fascinating how a different perspective can completely change our attitudes. Another way it can change attitudes is by challenging traditional gender roles and stereotypes. Many classic fairy tales depict princesses as passive and in need of rescue while princes are portrayed as strong and heroic. But modern retellings often subvert these stereotypes, presenting princesses as independent and capable of taking charge of their own destinies.

During my growth, I read through an entire book of fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm. When I was young, I would ponder whether I would make the same decisions as the protagonists in the fairy tales or have evil thoughts like the villains. This week, we read the original text of Snow White in class, and my feeling is that most of the story content is the same as the fairy tales I read when I was young, but the ending and the details in the story are not as harmonious as the Disney version of Snow White. In the original text, Snow White’s stepmother, out of jealousy, is eventually forced by the prince to wear red-hot shoes to death. I think when I was reading fairy tales as a child, I would never think about why the stepmother wanted to kill Snow White because of jealousy over beauty, but now that I think about it carefully, this story is after all from several centuries ago, in the context of that era, the expectations and goals for women were to marry into a noble family or to achieve a better life through their beauty, and the fairy tale itself was meant for children to watch and read, as a way of educating children that beauty is not the only way out, and the real world will not always end in harmony, and that evil people should be severely punished.

Growing up my idea and version of fairytales were the typical “happily ever after” endings. The fairytale Snow White that I recall from my childhood, was the queen giving Snow White the poisonous apple that sends her into a sleep like death that only can be broken by a kiss. The ending was also very different as well if not even more grim. The child friendly version ended with the prince saving her but instead the versions read today ended in a slow and painful death for the queen; this version she was sentenced to death by hot iron shoes and forced to “dance” until her death. I now see that fairytales are way more grim that what we have been conditioned to, the actuality of fairytales are very similar to that of myths or legends in a way. I only say this because stories like myths and legends are almost always grim, and you can compare this to the original “fairytales”. Lastly, I’ve also observed that Fairytales is very misleading as to what the story is about and how it ends.

The messages of fairy tales are a lot more complex than I previously thought. I absolutely love fairy tales, but this is more from a perspective of aesthetic. Delving into them from the perspective of lessons is not something I normally think to do. Good or famous fairy tales are also not one dimensional. They are layered with multiple meanings and target multiple audiences. For example, in relation to “Little Snow White”, I never connected that this was both a coming-of-age story and a cautionary tale. My only belief with this story was strictly toxic feminism. The evil queen was growing older, and her beauty was fading, so she took it out on Snow White who was growing more beautiful every day. We see this in everyday life with mothers, daughters, or across generations. After living with the seven dwarves and eating the poison apple, Snow White was saved by the prince. While this does feed into the “waiting for a man to save you” ideology, it does show our leading character entering a new stage of life, overcoming her conflict, and showing growth.

Before this week my attitude towards fairy tales was pretty simple. I used to think about fairytales as stories for children. However,  after we read “Snow White” which is a very famous fairy tale, my mind changed. I noticed that inside of what seems to be an innocent story for children, there are a lot of details that have a deeper meaning inside of them. For example, I realized that behind the stepmother’s behavior there are a lot of psychological details that I didn’t pay attention to in the past when I read this story for the first time. Another detail that I noticed from the Snow White story is the fact that the story itself is very focused on beauty, which to me, is not what we should teach to little girls. I would say that this has also religious reference inside with the “poison apple” that Snow White ate. To me, that is a direct reference to Eve from the Bible. I don’t know, maybe  not but that’s what I thought about the apple.

My attitude towards fairytales has change drastically due to this weeks readings. In the way that when you are a child you see the fantasy in the story and it gets your imagination going. As children we tend to be very naive so that also plays a part in not noticing the ideas that are presented  But now as an adult and reading “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” it opened my eyes to the ideas that it expresses such as waiting for a prince to save a woman from any danger, also the idea of beauty and how that is the only thing that matters. This story shows how people back then used to operate and I find it a terrible way to judge people.

After reading the article in activity 1 and “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, a idea I came across that I would of missed if I did not read the article was ideas about violence, irony and redemption. In the story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” a family is deciding to take a road trip to Florida, however the main protagonist the grandmother is against the idea of going to Florida because there’s a criminal on the loose known as the misfit. The grandmother portrays herself as this good Christian woman while still using racial slurs. In the story the grandmother consistently mentions the misfit. Talking about how the misfit would rob the dinner even if it was only 2 cents in the register. Ironically, the family ends up taking a detour from the route to Florida because of the grandmother. The family then which ends up in a violent car crash while navigating through the woods. Then ironically the misfits end up meeting the family at the worse time. The misfit starts having the family killed off one by one. While leaving the grandmother for last pleading for her life.

Flannery O’Connor’s own essays can shed light on her stories in a unique way. For example in her essay, she talks about grace and redemption which are key themes in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” Reading her essay might reveal how she uses these themes deliberately in the story to challenge readers’ perceptions.

There are many things that the article created based on the story “A good man is hard to find” Highlights. One of the main things that the article helps bring light to is the Christian aspect of the story that is both very important and can also to extent be easily forgotten without reading the article. In the story, one of the most important characters is the grandmother. Although the grandmother likes to portray herself as this good, upstanding Christian lady, her morals show different. It isn’t until the complete end of the story that she has an “epiphany”  losing that superiority complex of hers, and realizing that she is flawed just like everybody else, even calling the misfit one of her children, to the point where even though the misfit is still gonna kill her, and does, he recognizes it as a truthful and honest/compassionate act from the grandmother.

In Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” the author masterfully intertwines themes of grace, redemption, and the macabre, unveiling profound meanings within the narrative. Digging  into O’Connor’s work reveals the significance of the Misfit, not merely as a villain but as a pivotal figure in the grandmother’s moment of enlightenment. This character’s complex role exemplifies O’Connor’s exploration of the potential for redemption in even the most flawed individuals. Her insightful reflections underscore the violent climax as essential for awakening, challenging conventional perceptions of good versus evil. Furthermore, O’Connor employs the Southern Gothic backdrop not just as a setting but as a conduit to delve into the deeper aspects of human existence, prompting readers to reassess their judgments. Through a detailed understanding of O’Connor’s objectives, the story transcends mere crime storytelling and evolves into a profound exploration of faith, ethics, and the intricate facets of human behavior. This narrative, rich with existential queries and moral ambiguity, encourages a reevaluation of the binary notions of sin and virtue, illustrating O’Connor’s belief in the complexity and redeemability of the human soul..

In “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” Flannery O’Connor explores deep ideas like redemption and the complexity of human nature. Without her article, I feel like someone would miss the religious themes and symbolism in the story. O’Connor’s explanation of characters, like the Misfit, helps us understand their deeper meanings and challenges our assumptions about good and evil. Overall, her insights add layers to the story, making it more thought-provoking and meaningful.

While reading “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” one idea that stood out to me was the topic of redemption. The grandmother’s character arc, mainly, highlights the possibility for alternate and increase even in the face of drawing close chance. At first glance, she seems to be a shallow, self-focused person who’s most effective worried with her personal comfort and dreams. However, as the story progresses and she faces the threat of dying at the hands of The Misfit, we see her go through different phases. She tries to attraction to his humanity and indicates compassion in the direction of him in his final moments. This surprising display of empathy reveals that there is more intensity to her person than initially meets the attention and demanding situations our preconceived notions about who can be deemed “desirable” or “bad.” This exploration of redemption provides a sense in hope while reading this story.

When we first started reading this story it was confusing. I felt lost not knowing what the true meaning behind this story was. Reading the article written by the author, he said there would be goodness in the story eventually. Continuing reading the story and stopping to talk about what has happened already. More towards the end the grandma’s words to the Misfit changed the way he is, it had him rethink about the life choices he has made. The first time reading the story I didn’t understand what happened at the end but when I read the article written by the author when he mentioned about a situation where there will be goodness made me realize the goodness was in the Misfit. All throughout the story the family but mostly the grandma did not have any goodness in them. But, the misfit after hearing the grandma last words he changed his mind and told himself that there was no joy in killing anymore.

If I hadn’t read Flannery O’Connor’s article about “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” I might have missed some of the story’s deeper meanings when it came to religion. Her article explains how she intended to explore themes like the grandmother’s change of heart or her epiphany, which we talked about in class, and the idea of grace. Without this background, I really don’t think I would’ve realized that the ending was very important towards the topic of religion, or I would’ve thought it wasn’t deeper than what it was. O’Connor’s article helped me see how the story goes beyond just a tale of crime and punishment, diving into complex moral and religion questions.  After reading the article I went back to reread “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” and to be honest it was a whole different read. I started to think more about the smaller things and try to interpret.   

Upon reading the three pages and “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” the article highlights particular significant ideas that one may miss without reading. Firstly, the article mentions how the violence in the story helps to reveal more profound spiritual themes, particularly when the Misfit commits a violent act. This assists in understanding the grandmother’s transformation when she confronts death. Secondly, the article provides a more complex view of the grandmother’s character. She is portrayed as neither entirely good nor entirely evil, but having positive qualities despite her imperfections. This allows us to view her character in a more intriguing light. Also, the article discusses symbols in the story, such as the grandmother’s hat and the cat’s name, which have hidden meanings that enhance the story’s depth. By understanding these signs, we can develop a better understanding of the author’s intentions. Therefore, the article helps us gain a more profound understanding of “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by illustrating its themes, characters, and writing style.

HELLO, So,I do feel like I would have missed some things from the story if I didn’t read the essay which was the Activity 1 that professor make us read in the starting of the class to clear us the story more.Firstly,the essay delves into the Misfit’s character, revealing him as a symbolic representation of the South’s conflicted religious identity, adding layers of philosophical tension to his menacing nature. Secondly, O’Connor’s exploration of religious themes contrasts the grandmother’s superficial faith with the Misfit’s intricate theological ponderings, enriching the narrative’s exploration of morality and redemption. Additionally, the article analysis of symbolism, such as the grandmother’s hat symbolizing misplaced values, and literary techniques like foreshadowing and irony, accentuates the story’s suspenseful climax. Although I would not have understand the story better until I have read the article it helps me alot in understanding the story well.

“A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” what resonated with me the most was the absence of morality and selfishness. The grandmother, as the eldest member of the family, wished for other family members to follow her desires and guidance to fulfill her dreams, placing her own wishes above everyone else’s. In the final section of the essay, she said: “If someone had been holding a gun to her head all her life, she would have been a good person all the time.” This tells me that she is someone willing to be a good person or consider others only when her life or safety is threatened. She and the criminal are confidants who understand each other at the deepest level. Yet, it is such a confidant who understands her, who personally ends the lives of her and her family, making her pay the highest price for her selfishness. I believe that the reason the grandmother shows concern for her family at the end of the story is because someone is pointing a gun at her at that moment, threatening her life. Throughout her life, the grandmother did not spend much time thinking about others. It’s only in the last moments of her life, or when faced with a threat, that she’s willing to become such a “good person.” This demonstrates that she knows how to be a good person but chooses not to unless her life is in danger, habitually placing her own interests above the feelings of everyone else.

Hello professor. Honestly I do feel like I would have missed few things in the story . One of those things are that if I did not read the article before reading the story; While in class, after we finished reading the article, I was left with feeling kind of “left off”. Unfortunately I did not understand where the story went and found myself wanting to read more. When reading the article, the description of the grandmother and of the misfits portrayed them out to be somewhat of these characters that left a bad taste in your mouth, at least in regards to the grandmother the image of her personality is distorted.  After reading the actual story, the grandmother is not as bad as she is made out to be, In the end of the story the grandmother shows that she does care for her family and is not the selfish witch that the readers thought she was.

A significant idea that I came across in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is the theme of morality and redemption.The grandmother presents herself as a morally upright Christian but instead demonstrates selfishness and manipulation throughout the story. Without reading the article I would’ve thought that it was going to be centered around a man in the story but in reality the grandmother in the story lacked morals more than the Misfit, she just likes to portray herself in a certain way, very ladylike and elegant but she lacked a lot of care even for her own family, the misfit says at the end of the story ” she would have been a good lady if there was somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life”, this shows how the misfit viewed the grandmother as a deceitful person who was just crying for mercy and saying the nicest things while a gun was pointed to her.

I would have overlooked the importance of the parental role if I hadn’t read the article before reading the story. I think it would have been important for the parents to have a say in it, even though the grandma gets all the spotlight. They didn’t appear to be discussed much, and they gave off the impression of being rather absent parents. Even when they were dealing with the outcast, the father remained silent and did not say or do anything. With her kids, the mother also gave off the impression of being absent and uninvolved. The grandmother’s pride and selfishness was not discussed in the story. Her priorities, such as finding the home from her past, took priority over her family’s well being. It seems as though the parents, although having children, have no obligations. It appears as though they are not parenting their children. Additionally, it seems as though Bailey, the husband, has no obligations as a man. It’s as if he failed his wife and kids by not intervening to save them when the Misfit kidnaps the family. They also don’t enforce rules for their kids. They don’t punish or interfere with them, allowing them to act and do as they choose.

Had I not read the article prior to the story, I believe I would have overlooked the significance of the parents’ roles and their actions within the narrative. I felt they were hardly mentioned, and they seemed to be very unassertive when it came to disciplining their children. The father also didn’t do much or say much, even when they were dealing with the misfit. The mother seemed to be uninvolved and passive with her children as well. The article didn’t talk about the grandmother’s self-centered behavior.  She was more concerned about her own desires, like finding a house from her past, than with the safety of her family. By the grandmother not using a road map for directions to find this house from her past, led to the car accident. She seemed more worried about getting attention for herself, then checking on her family after the car crash. I feel if I hadn’t read the article prior to reading the story I might have missed how the grandmother’s behavior changes. She comes across as selfish at the beginning, but by the end of the story she shows a sense of concern and compassion.

In the article I feel as if it’s really just about the grandmother and how much of a narcissist she is . She’s too self absorbed and doesn’t really care about anyone else’s feelings. Also the grandmother is also a racist ignorant person. It’s as if the parents have no responsibility even though they have kids . It’s really like they’re not raising their kids. It’s also like Bailey the husband doesn’t have any responsibility as the man . Kind of like he failed his children & wife because he does nothing to save them when the Misfit takes the family . Also they don’t discipline their children . They let them do whatever they want and act however they are without repercussions or reprimanding them . Also I read this when I was in middle school so it’s actually a refreshing experience to re read it again . But I still felt the same way about reading it when i read it in middle school .

One of the specific ideas that I came across in “A Good Man Is Hard To Find” that I would have missed if I had not read the article, “Flannery O’Connor On Writing” was the gesture. I knew that this scene in the story was deeper than I thought it was. At first, I thought she said that just because she was scared. Although, after reading the article I am aware that she said this because she felt she was responsible for the Misfit. Also, this scene could’ve been a turning point for the Misfit. After reading the article it is possible that he will seek out to be the prophet he was made to be and it was because of that moment with the grandma. I think these points definitely make sense looking back at the story. Although, I would have never thought of this myself. The article gave me good insight into this moment. 

When I read the story I did comprehend the significance of the grandmother’s behavior towards the Misfit at the end of the story. Her calling him one of her own children seemed like a sudden change, but now I see it differently. Throughout the story, the grandmother judged people based on superficial appearances, like saying the Misfit must come from nice people, the grandmother had a selfish behavior making the family fall into the tragedy,In that moment, facing death, she showed genuine care and acceptance. It’s like she finally saw beyond the surface. After reading the article I realized the deeper religious themes in the story, like the struggle between good and evil, the grandmother’s attempts to bring the Misfit to Christ reflect Connor’s vision of redemption of the actions throwout the history. It’s tragic that she only grasps this after the tragedy of the other members. The Misfit’s past and his longing for connection with his father add layers to his character, making the grandmother’s gesture even more critic and emotional.

The idea that I came across in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” in which I would’ve missed if I hadn’t read the article by the author in Activity 1 was basically the importance on the changes in emotions to the grandmother because at first, she seemed like she didn’t really care about anything but herself. Then throughout the whole story she kept expressing to the Misfit about how she felt. By the end of the story before dying, the grandmother’s emotions changed and actually felt like a grandmother to the Misfit as she saw him as one of her kids. I would’ve probably missed the purpose of the change in emotions if I hadn’t read the other article because it played a big role in the story for the grandmother, from being careless to actually caring for someone. I actually find changes in emotions significant because it shows how people can change from the way they used to be.

(“A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is also in my used textbook — now I can say that the title is “The Literary Experience” by Beiderwell/Wheeler. I recommend it even for those works within it that aren’t part of this course, they’re great! But this isn’t part of my word count, heh) When I read this short story on my own, it never so much as crossed my mind that there might be a False Prophet reflected in The Misfit; it’s especially baffling considering that my source has both a biographical paragraph stating that “[Flannery O’Connor’s] works are essentially religious, in that they express her Catholic vision of the world as a fallen place in need of redemption”, and this quote by St. Cyril of Jerusalem: “The dragon is by the side of the road, watching those who pass. Beware lest he devour you. We go to the Father of Souls, but it is necessary to pass by the dragon.” Honestly, the religious overtones to characters and not just dialogue could’ve decked me in the face, and I still would have just shaken my head at some *nebulous evil that inspires senseless violence* and gone about my day, so Baudelaire was right. Something else I only noticed after reading the preceding article was the structure of the confrontation that demonstrates some of O’Connor’s vision: the many attempts and failures of the grandmother to get The Misfit to see the light of Christ. All of her platitudes glance past him because she doesn’t know him at all — and even when he dumps his tragic history she still can’t synthesize any of it effectively until everyone else she traveled with (except Pitty Sing, a cute immortalization of her now that I think of it) has been murdered. “You’re one of […]

The article does not touch on how the parents act, and it did not describe how little of a role they played in the story. Throughout the story, the parents were hardly mentioned. They clearly were extremely passive with disciplining their children, and the mother was even referred to as a “cabbage”. The father also did very little while the family was being taken by the Misfit. The article did not discuss the narcissistic tendences of the Grandmother. She was extremely concerned about her appearance and how she wanted things to go in the car. She derailed their trip by looking for a house from her childhood without a map, removing them from the main road and causing the accident. The Grandmother also did not check in with her family to make sure they were alright after the car crash. Her main concern was with herself, and whether she would get attention if she was injured.

The specific idea that Flannery O’Connor brings into her explication of “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is violence as a conduit of grace. In that view, violence was not an end but was the means of shaking the characters out of their complacency to make room for grace. Violence was not an end but a means of shaking the characters out of their complacency to make room for grace. In that view, there is a purpose served deeper than mere sensationalism. It makes the reader face the moral and existential issues of the characters, which eventually leads toward the spirituality of insights and deliverance through the happenings of violence. Violence in O’Connor’s stories is a theme that would trigger one to think deeply about spiritual growth, as it symbolizes the complex nature of man’s existence and possible transformation through grace. In addition, O’Connor’s study of Catholicism as an underpinning influence in the literary repertoire context highlights the rich theological foundations that mark the author’s brand of storytelling. Her statement, “All my stories are about the action of grace on a character who is unwilling to support it,” reveals how deeply religious themes and motifs are woven into her fiction. These tales of O’Connor are remythologized through the overlays of Christian mysteries such as sin, grace, and redemption. Such invites the reader to grapple with precisely the questions of faith and morality that are their own and of all human beings. By framing her stories within the Catholic context, O’Connor interpreted her stories to allow penetration of the paradoxes of man and the perennial tug-of-war between transgression and redemption.

Overall, I didn’t really enjoy reading Oedipus the King, I’m not a fan of plays in general and this one was especially boring in my opinion. The old English is which it was written made the story feel like a drag and it wasn’t an attention grabber for me. I was fully able to read it but I don’t think I would read it again at least not by choice, and I most definitely would never choose to act out this play.

  If I hadn’t read the article before reading the story I think that  would have misunderstood what significance has0 the gesture of the grandmother had at the end of the story. When she expressed to the Misfit that he was one of her children, I believe that it was her way to after all, seeing someone without a superficial eye. Through the whole story the Grandmother made up her perceptions about others based on what they have with expressions like “I know you’re a good man. You don’t look a bit like you have common blood. I know you must come from nice people!” I think that if I hadn’t read the article I would have missed a lot of the grandmother’s behavioral components. At the beginning of the story I found her very selfish but at the end as she found herself facing death she finally did something that for the first time in the story she behaved like a caring grandmother.

The only idea I would have missed in “A Good Man Is Hard to Hard to Find” had I not read the author’s article would be the designated roles of prophet and witch. While reading the story, I was irritated by the Grandmother’s blatant racism and biases towards people of color and her manipulative tendencies that inevitably resulted in the massacre of her entire family. Readers interpreting the grandmother as a witch may have seemed drastic and unnecessary, but location and time do affect one’s interpretation of written works. While reading, I grew to understand why some referred to her as a witch -hypocrisy aside, the lady was insufferable and had a ‘familiar’ like pet. I also noticed O’Connor reasoning to refer to the Misfit as a prophet – despite him killing the grandmother, his innate understanding of humanity shifted because of the conversation he had with her. The Misfit’s perception of justice and good and evil is warped, and O’Connor essentially used the Misfit to demonstrate any individual’s ability to change/shift mindsets.

if I had to rate my ability to understand the play Oedipus the King I would rate myself a 5 or 6 out of 10. I think I was good at understanding what was going on to a certain extent however the way that the story is told and the vocabulary that is used makes it difficult to notice what is happening. the overall vocabulary and the way the story was written in really long paragraphs made it difficult for me to keep up with the story. if I had to be honest I didn’t like reading this play because it was confusing however taking the time to dissect each paragraph somehow still made the experience memorable. If I could play someone in a production of this play I think I would want to portray Creon because I found it interesting how he was content with not wanting to be king and found the life of being a king to be burdensome.

My ability to examine and understand the play “Oedipus the king” is a 8/10. Some of the symbolism and just wording in general I can say were a little challenging for me because I couldn’t understand everything all to well, however from beginning to end I really enjoyed this story. One of the main ideas that were in Oedipus the king was this idea of free will. I liked how much of a leader and how strong willed at the beginning to the story, always one step ahead ready to go, especially during the plague. Oedipus the king ultimately ends with him fulfilling a prophecy to where he ends up killing his father and marrying his mother, a disturbing twist of fulfilling a prophecy to where even as a king he was nothing more than a pawn in a destiny that was forced upon him with no escape (I’ve always enjoyed reading literature that question things like free will), which also gives readers questions as to whether or not one can escape their destiny regardless of what choices they make. If I had to choose to be a character, it would probably be Creon, due to the fact that in the end, the sideline character gets all the benefits the main character should’ve had, without nearly as much loss.

I would rate my ability to read Oedipus the King a 7 due to me reading plays in previous classes. I did struggle with the use of Greek language in the play because I am not accustomed to reading Greek language. Besides the minor struggles I faced while reading the play I like the play because of the drama that it displayed in the play. Once I learned that the play was about a son killing his father and marrying his mother, my attention was focused on the play because to me it gave scandal of something that could happen in today day and age. I myself like drama movies and don’t mind to read about public scandals from time to time so to be able to read about a Greek scandal was  exciting. If I had to portray a character from the play I would want to be Oedipus because of his persona of being a strong person and taking responsibility for his actions.

I feel my ability to examine and understand Oedipus the King as quite solid. It is a classic Greek tragedy it really is stood the test of time. Some components have been a bit confusing with all of the symbolism and dramatic irony happening, however after class discussions, I felt like I had a good draw close on the overall subject matters and messages of the play. The way Oedipus unknowingly fulfills the prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mom is just so messed up, yet captivating. Overall, analyzing Oedipus the King become simply challenging at instances, but completely well worth it. I would love to play Creon inside the play because he simply looks as if I should relate to him inside the way he doesn’t need to be a king but receives all of the advantages. Creon just seems like he is just kind of hiding in the background in the play so I would probably play him

Reading Oedipus the King was fascinating to me, especially knowing how old the story/play is. It had me thinking about what inspired Sophocles to write this, and if he pulled elements from things he had seen in his life. I had read Oedipus the King in high school, so I knew what to expect. However, my memory had faded a bit, so certain elements of this story were brought back to my attention. This included Jocasta hanging herself, and Oedipus gouging out his own eyes. The dialog was challenging for me, seeing as it was written and translated an extremely long time ago. Having it explained in class was helpful but was difficult to understand while doing some of the reading on my own. If I were to be in a production of this play, I would probably want to play the role of Jocasta because she seems like an interesting character. While she seems strong willed and put together, she folds under the weight of her tragic findings. Upon finding out that her entire marriage is a sham and that she has married her own child, she decides to end her life. It would be interesting to get into the mindset of someone who goes into full reaction mode after having the rug pulled out from under them.

During this week of class reading “Oedipus the king”, I would rate my ability to read and understand the play as a 9 out of 10. “Oedipus the king” is a Greek tragedy about a man who unknowing fulfills a prophecy by killing his father and marrying his mother. As someone who doesn’t read plays very much, my rating of a 9 out of 10 for reading and understanding is pretty good. While reading the play, I’ve been able to understand the plot pretty well but I’ve had trouble understanding some words and the placement of words have also been a little difficult to understand. Reading this play I actually found myself liking the story and the characters a lot. This story had themes of fate and freewill which I enjoyed how Oedipus was persistent to find out the truth about himself. In the production of this play, I would want to play Oedipus. I would want to portray the character Oedipus because for starters he’s the main character. I would play Oedipus because his character changes over the course of the story as he unveils more information about his origin and prophecy.

i would rate my ability to read and understand Oedipus the King would be subjective. the parts i did understand were the dramatic irony of the play. i also the tragic events and the exploration of freedom versus fate. these elements resonate with me due to the timeless importance and psychological depth.  the elements that were challenging to me were the difficult language they used in the play, also the cultural context of Greek society required  a lot of effort to fully understand . adding on to that trying to figure out their moral dilemmas  and the psychological turmoil of the characters, especially Oedipus.  even withe challenges i think reading the play was an interesting experience . the character i would like to portray if i had to would be Oedipus himself. one reason is why is because he is the lead of  the play.  then playing the character  would be an acting challenge try io reenact his emotional journey         

 Well I think i would rate my ability to read and understand Oedipus the King from a scale of 1 to10, a 7.I was fine and okay with the reading even though some words were not something i was used to but the understanding what i was reading was a bit hard.Well at least when i was reading it to myself. But when we did the class discussions it was way more easier to understand. I think because we were taking a break after every line. And really closely observing it.  At first I was not really enjoying the book. But then I searched up the overall summary of the book and they said something about a son killing their dad and marrying their mom so then I was hooked and started to really like it. The book. Not the killing and incest. And I think I would want to be Creon. He is super cool and chill. And like the most logical. I think he was like the most sane person throughout the play.. Also maybe Tiresias , he was also super chill as well. He said what he needed to and when Oedipus was saying rude stuff to him he was really mature about it. And just went about his day.

The play is a classic tragedy with so many layers to explore. I found the concept of fate and the tragic flaw of Oedipus intriguing. It made me question the boundaries of free will and the power would love to portray Oedipus himself. His journey from confidence to despair is incredibly compelling and I would enjoy delving into the complexities of his character. The play delves into the themes of fate and tragic flaw making us ponder the boundaries of destiny and free will. It’s fascinating to see how Oedipus’s actions unknowingly lead to his downfall showcasing the power of self-fulfilling prophecy.

I would rate my ability to understand “Oedipus the King” as fairly strong. I’m good at grasping the main plot and themes of the play, such as fate, hubris, and the consequences of one’s actions. However, I might find some of the language and cultural references challenging to fully grasp without additional context. Overall, I enjoyed reading the play for its gripping storyline and complex characters. If I had to portray a character, I would choose Oedipus because of his dramatic arc and the opportunity to explore the depths of his character’s journey from confidence to despair, which would be a challenging and rewarding role to tackle.

So, I would rate my understanding of Oedipus the King as 5/10. I do not understand the play in one reading especially the old plays like these because I am not used to reading such difficult words and do not even know their meaning. I am used to reading modern plays as they have easy language usage, so it is easy to understand them. But I appreciate the Professor as during the reading of the play she explained each line and the plot and even asked questions so we all could understand that. I enjoyed reading the play but not that much because of the language usage of difficult words. If I want to play one role from this play then I will choose the character Oedipus King because of the different stories in the play, and his multifaceted nature, allowing me to delve into themes of fate, hubris, and self-discovery, making it a challenging and engaging role.

Oedipus the King is a classic Greek tragedy with rich language and complex themes. Many find it challenging at first due to its antiquated language and cultural context. However, with repeated readings and careful analysis, I understand the text better. I would rate my ability to read and understand Oedipus the King is 5/10. My biggest challenge is adapting to the ancient Greek style of writing, which can feel verbose and ornate compared to modern prose. Additionally, understanding the cultural and historical context of the play, including its references to Greek mythology and religious beliefs, can be daunting for me. Oedipus isn’t my cup of tea I don’t really enjoy it. I would like  to portray Oedipus the King because of his sense of authority and charisma.

My understanding of Oedipus the King is about a six out of ten. In my opinion, because we are so used to modern English, the vocabulary or wording was a little hard to grasp. That was the main reason for why the play’s old English made it difficult to understand. That being said, I did enjoy reading the play, and it was more enjoyable when my classmates got to play characters. I found the play to be interesting.If I had to choose, I would like Creon to play the part. Through his interactions with Oedipus, we were able to look at morality and the relationship between power and authority. Creon’s transformation from a loyal subject to a troubled king was interesting.

As a student who hasn’t read many plays, I think my level of ability to read and understand “Oedipus the King” is about average. It was easy for me to follow the plot and bigger story. I also got the play’s key ideas and messages. But I had trouble understanding some of the more complicated words and subtleties in the text, which made some parts hard for me. The ideas of fate and free will is one of my favorites to think about. These parts of the play were interesting and made me think deeper. Overall, I liked reading “Oedipus the King” because it had a lot of interesting stories and topics that are still relevant today. Being Oedipus himself would be my choice for a role in a production of the play. His character changes dramatically over the course of the play, which would be hard but satisfying to play on stage it would feel as me and the character are both developing. Plus, his complicated mind and inner battles would give the character a lot of depth.

I would rate my ability to read and understand Oedipus the King a 6/10 because I*m still getting a bit confused on how the play was worded. I feel the beginning of the play was much easier to understand then the end.  I feel I was able to read the play and understood parts of it but others not so much.  If it weren’t for Professor Conway stopping us and going thru the lines and explaining what was happening, I wouldn’t have been able to break it down that way on my own.  There is a much deeper meaning to this play and I’m glad she stopped us; I enjoyed it better!!!  If I had to choose a character to portray, I would choose Creon, because he seemed to appreciate what he had, unlike Oedipus who didn’t. At least Creon seemed happy with what he had, and I would rather live my life like that.

I would rate my ability to read and understand Oedipus the King  a 5/10 as I’m still getting confused on how they word things out. Besides that, I feel like I’m doing alright with my ability to read Oedipus the King. Reading the poem was ok, but understanding it was what was a little challenging for me because I had to figure out the deeper meaning of what writer was trying to show. I feel like I did enjoy reading this play even though I seemed kind of lost. If I were to be part of a production of a play, I feel like the character that I would want to portray is Oedipus because putting yourself in the same situation as him would also make you feel paranoid by all of the things that’s been going on to the point where you start suspecting of everybody since you feel threatened.

I will rate myself understanding “Oedipus the King” as 7.5/10,I can recognize and interpret the use of literary devices like irony (especially dramatic irony), symbolism, and foreshadowing, all of which are crucial to the play’s impact. In the story, No one can run out from the destiny.While I can understand and describe the emotional landscape of the play, I don’t experience emotions, so the emotional resonance and the tragic impact of the play on the audience are aspects I know of theoretically rather than experientially. If I could, I would like to be Creon. For me, he represents reason and power, and possesses profound wisdom. He also displays loyalty and integrity: in the play, Creon shows loyalty to his family and country. Even though he occupies an important position within the power structure, he doesn’t seem to seek more power through improper means. His actions reflect a respect for justice and order.”

Hello professor, So at first when we started reading “Oedipus The King”,  I would rate my ability to read and understand what I am reading in between a seven and an eight. I say this because yes I was reading the words with no problem however, I had to read the text a few times to really understand what was going on. I feel like I had to read it over again because of the terminology that the play is spoken in. Keep in mind this play takes place a very long time ago. We are talking 420-430 b.c . After reaching to about the middle of the story continuing to the end, it became more familiar to me therefore it was much more easy to understand. I noticed that one way for me to be able to grasp a concept or terminology, I obtain and store the information better through repetition.

Reading & understanding opedius the king I would probably rate myself like a 6.5/10 because it does have a lot of complex vocabulary & elements . Also because they’re a couple mistakes made with the dialogue.  Another thing is I had to read it multiple times to actually understand what was going on which made it a bit challenging. But the character that I would’ve like to been was Jocasta because it seems like Jocasta really tried to be the problem solver to everything & that’s how my personality is in real life ,  I don’t really like to see people go through problems without finding a solution so I try to help them mostly or I really try to be there to comfort them no matter what the problem is . Overall I really like getting to understand the reading & I will try to do it more often as possible because during this course poetry had really opened up my eyes in many ways .

  If I had to rate the way that I read/understand Oedipus the King, I would rate myself with a 6/10. The play is very interesting, that is something that I liked. Every character brings something different to the story. However, there were a lot of parts when I found myself confused. The vocabulary used in the story is complex, so a lot of times I had to go back and read through lines very carefully to understand. I loved to participate in the reading as well. I feel like I was playing the actual role in the play lol. Overall, it’s a very interesting reading but challenging as well. I also believe that the fact that it is a long story may have confused a few people in the class just as I was, because we had to read the story in parts. That confused me because by the time we were able to read the next part in the next class I already forgot what we had read in the past class. The character that I would choose would be Jocasta. Because she was so caring and wanted to understand Oedipus every time. I liked her role a lot, I think that she contributed a lot to the development of the story.

I would rate my ability to read and understand Oedipus the king is a good 8.5/10. The parts of the act that were very straightforward were the easiest part that I could understand. When their were parts hat the Chorus would elaborate made it also easy to understand what is happening at that point. The hardest part while reading this act were the metaphors that they would use to describe a feeling or situation, and difficult language that I have to go back and reread a couple times In order to understand what was happening. I really enjoyed reading this act but this act needs to be reread a couple times to really understand the situations, at first it was getting boring but the more I was reading this act it got more and more interesting that I wanted to read more and more. I would want to portray Oedipus in the act because he was the main character and a strong character in which we see how his traits has changed throughout the play, I would like to act with passion and anger like Oedipus.

I would rate my ability to read and understand Oedipus the King, as mildly efficient. I understood the beginning very easily, but the ending got very confusing. I did enjoy reading the play because it is different and interesting. However, the elements of Oedipus towards the end were very confusing. This was confusing because the lines got shorter and harder to comprehend. When we were in class and we broke down the lines, understanding every word and part of the lines helped with my confusion. If I could pick a character to portray if I had to be in a production of the play, I would be Creon. I would choose him because he seemed content with what he had. Unlike Oedipus, who was very short-tempered and oblivious to his own murder. I think the best character was Creon, even if I had to become King, I would still choose Creon. He would be a good leader and be happy.

When Reding “Oedipus the King” had its challenges for me especially with the formal language and vocabulary used in the play. But I found it easier to follow along and understand with the help of the professor recaps and class discussions. The character I connected with was Creon, Oedipus’s brother, he plays a significant transformation in the play, which I found interesting and how he took the responsibility when becoming a king, I would choose to portray Creon because of his realistic behavior in the play. Creon is left to assume the role of king, despite the challenges and bad conditions thrown at him, Creon maintains a calm and acts rational,  focusing on the stability of the people and the city’, highlighting his growth and development throughout the play. The story ends with Creon being the king and driving to stability an entire city, leading to a happy ending for him.

I’d say I’ve gotten pretty good at reading poetry, especially after diving into “The Last Duchess” by Robert Browning. I’m getting the hang of analyzing literally devices and the poet’s intentions. However, I feel I could still improve on interpreting more complex metaphors and understanding historical context without needing to look things up. When it comes to reading poetry, I’ve been working on analyzing the poem “The Last Duchess” by Robert Browning. It’s been quite an interesting journey exploring the literary devices and he deeper meaning behind the words.

When Covid-19 started, it was like the whole world had changed. Everyone was scared to go outside, go to public places, etc. I remember sitting on a bus or going on the train how everyone was so scared to even be near each other. And things like social media only made it 100 times worse. With the amount of stuff popping out on the news all over the world about covid-19, the vaccines, politics, etc. all caused problems for everyone. To this day there are still people that are so paranoid that they separate in public area much like before and refuse to stand close to each other. Its become so normal that even when it comes to sitting in areas its almost second nature to have space between each other, something that wasn’t so big to do before Covid. In “Oedipus the king” this is very similar to real life due to how everyone was so scared of the plague they experinces and no one knew what to do.

thinking back to the times during covid I remember everyone being distant and cold to each other due to fear of getting sick. day-to-day life was also more complicated and doing something simple like getting groceries took longer because of safety precautions. Having to stop our daily lives and having to focus on remaining safe is also somewhat of what the citizens in Oedipus the King had to go through as well. In the story, the citizens are told to stop praying and to focus on a cure instead. however, I do believe there are obvious contrasts between our epidemic versus the one in the story. This is because the story takes an unexpected turn and it gives us a plot twist revealing that the person who caused the epidemic was the king himself. comparing that to COVID-19  there wasn’t any sort of plot twist or one specific person in power that caused the epidemic to begin with.

after two weeks of reading poetry i think i would rate my ability to  poetry like a 5.  me personally im still not a a big fan of it but i some what understand some of their meaning.  for example one of the poems i did understand was the poem my last duchess . its about the Duke of Ferrara’s character through his speech about a portrait of his deceased wife. in some ways i feel like i could be better at is  to know what devices the authors are using in their poems. like in the poem the mother and we really cool i had a real tough time on what literary devices and techniques they used in the mother. then in the poem we really cool i couldnt figure out what was the meaning and theme behind the poem. a way to get better is to practice it more then i have been

I would rate my ability to read poetry a 7. I say a seven because even though I like poetry sometimes poets use of language gives me a hard time understanding their poems. For example the poem titled “Shall I compared thee to a summer’s day?”, I had trouble understanding due to the language Shakespeare used. Line 2 of the poem says, “Thou art more lovely and more temperate,” due to the European language that was used. Another thing that I struggle with when reading poems is the use of imagery and relating to the poet. Sometimes if I cant relate to the poet I cant imagined or use my imagery to see what the poet is saying figuratively. If I can overcome these things I think it will strengthen my ability to read and understand poetry. In middle school and high school I did not know knowing all of these things would make me understand poetry better but since reading poetry these last two weeks, improve my ability to read and understand poetry a lot more.

I would rate my ability to read poems a bit better than before these two weeks. If before I was like a 5/10 in reading poems i think it went up to a 6. The ways I think I can be better is identifying the figurative language that is being used in these poems. Also I still think poems are really difficult to understand and I feel like poems are very exaggerated, why use such complicated ways to talk about a lake. “And evening full of the linnet’s wings.” what does this even mean like come on there was definitely something else you can put there. I also just find some poems kinda dumb like Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening By Robert Frost hes just talking about a stop he made in the woods while riding his horse somewhere. I just dont think Im ever gonna be at peace reading poems.

My ability to read poetry after the past two weeks has improved a bit. I have become more familiar with certain terms such as imagery, some of the poems we read have opened up my imagination and I could vividly feel or even envision what the speaker is writing about in their poems. Although I still struggle with understanding some of the text when it’s written a certain way it feels a bit tricky to comprehend the meaning behind certain stanzas. I also still struggle reading slowly and reading a poem the way it should be read, sometimes I read it like a run on sentence instead of pausing the way I should and that plays into me getting confused. I do enjoy reading certain poems because of the feelings they’re capable to invoke like sadness or joy but some of them use certain words that leaved me feeling puzzled.

  In the past two weeks we have been reading different poems that I can say that I had never read before. I’m still trying to improve my ability to read poetry because this literature genre could be a little bit hard to understand and so I try to read it. When it comes to poetry I do like it but sometimes it is a little bit confusing because the words used in the poems that we have read are a little bit too odd. Sometimes I have to go back and read the whole line to try to understand a certain word. That happened to me a lot when we were reading “Oedipus the King” lol. If I had to rate myself when it comes to poetry/and reading it I would give myself a 6/10 just because I feel that I have to read more poems in order to get more comfortable with it. 

The Covid 19 pandemic four years ago, it was a tragic time that affected all, when Covid hit in 2020, it felt like everything turned upside down, lives were lost, fear spread through the countries and normal life stoped. Schools closed, jobs canceled, and important events were, leaving many feeling confused and scared about what would happen next. Comparing this era to “Oedipus the King,” it’s like seeing history repeat itself. The way the priest talks about the plague in Thebes sounds a lot like how people felt during Covid scared, trapped, and unsure of what to do. But while COVID brought communities together, “Oedipus the King” shows how fear and blame tore people apart, leading to even more problems. In Ecuador, where I was when Covid started, I saw firsthand how people reacted. There was panic as cases surged, and everyone was worried about getting sick.The time became unforgateble marking a before and after, even an end of practices and lives. In the chaos I saw people coming together to help each other out including institutions but it also showed how strong we can be when we stick together for a propuse.

If I were to rate my poetry reading skills, I’d say they’re about a 7 out of 10. I have strong critical thinking skills, which sometimes leads me to overthink, but it helps me delve deeper into poetry to uncover possible meanings. I feel I need more practice with reading poetry that’s not modern. For instance, when I read “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day” by William Shakespeare, I found it challenging due to unfamiliar terms like “ow’st.” However, after rereading it about three times, I became more familiar with the piece. Another challenge I face is the tendency to rush through a poem instead of breaking it down piece by piece. While this approach sometimes works for me, I’d like to develop the habit of taking my time to fully absorb and understand each poem. In closing, moving forward into poetry I will be more intentional with my reading and open.

  I don’t think I have ever had a problem with reading poetry. I have always loved poetry, it is something near and dear to me and I enjoy writing it myself. In the past two weeks, I think my ability to read poetry has gotten better so far. “The Lake Isle of Innisfree,” poem is an example of a poem that was harder to understand at first, but I got it later after discussing it. The poem, “My Last Duchess,” was very confusing at first, but after the video we watched in class and the discussion, I can understand now. Although poems seem to be hard to understand at first, sometimes the meaning is easier than we think. Poems are deep, but sometimes the meaning is exactly what it says. I learned this from the poems we have read. There are different ways to dissect a poem. We can break them down and use context clues to help. 

After the past two weeks, I would rate my ability to read poetry as significantly improved. I’ve dedicated time to engage with various poetic forms and styles, allowing me to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the nuances of language and emotion within poetry. However, despite this progress, I still recognize areas where I could improve. One aspect is my analysis of meter and rhythm. Additionally, I aim to refine my interpretation of ambiguity and imagery. Overall, while I’ve made strides in understanding and appreciating poetry, I acknowledge the ongoing journey to deepen my comprehension and interpretation further.  

I wouldn’t say that I’ve always had a bad time reading poems, but after these past two weeks, I would say that I’ve learned more about the different analyses behind how poems should be read. Poems are known for being very dramatic, yet I’ve noticed that the poems we’ve read presented different tones that helped me fully grasp the feel of emotion and setting that these poets showcase. For instance, after listening to W.B Yeats read his poem “The Lake Of Innisfree”, I quickly gained a better perspective of how a change in tone shifts an entire feel to a poem. The poem “My Last Duchess” confused me a lot, but after breaking down every single stanza during our Zoom meeting, I understood more about what emotions the poet showcased. Usually, I’m more of a listening type of person with music and such, but all in all, these poems presented to me different feelings and emotions that are showcased due to a certain tone.

The understanding of poetry for me earlier was not so good.I struggle alot with the language and words used by the poet. But now I have increase my knowledge of reading the poetryfrom my high school. And in this week I learned a lot like the Like what the poet want to symbolize in the poetry that refreshes everything.I also read one poetry “Because I could not stop for Death,”by Emily dickson depicts Death as a gentle carriage driver guiding the speaker towards eternity. This imagery symbolizes the transition from life to death, where each stage of the journey represents different aspects of life and mortality. For instance, the slowing down at the school signifies the end of childhood innocence, while the pause at the grave symbolizes the finality of death. Additionally, the imagery of the setting sun conveys the idea of life’s conclusion.In essence, the poem conveys the inevitability of death and the acceptance of its natural progression. It presents death not as a frightening event but as a serene passage into eternity.So, I think I learned how to read the poem and how to understand its summary.1

I’d give my ability for understanding poetry a seven out of ten.Poetry has a ton of fascinating, often difficult to understand phrases. William Shakespeare’s “Shall I Compare thee to a Summer’s Day” was one of the poems that I truly liked. This poem, which talks about love and beauty that never fades, is one of my favorites since it uses such lovely language. Because the poem discusses topics that are universal, like love and nature, it is also simpler to understand. To help the reader in memory of the main idea, it repeats several sentences and uses simple language. It conveys a clear message, the person being addressed is more beautiful than a summer’s day, and their beauty will never fade.

On a scale of one to ten I would rate my ability to read poetry a five out of ten as I sometimes get stuck on understanding certain things so when this happens I usually just do my research on it. I feel like the way I could get better in reading poetry is by reading it often as you’ll get used to it and would slowly understand what it’s trying to tell you. Another way is by doing research on how to improve in reading poetry and how to understand it. I usually find Shakespeare’s poems challenging because it has a lot of important information which makes it hard to understand everything that’s going on in the poem. As we practice, things will usually become easier to do. I will have to read poetry until I get used to reading and understanding poetry enough so I won’t have to go and do my research about it.

Personally I feel like I can rate my ability to be able to read poetry to maybe like an eight on a scale from one to ten. I have always loved poetry ever since I was little. I am a music lover as well and song writer so poetry plays and has always played a big part in my life. When reading poetry you have to know the flow of the poem, and to know the flow , you have to feel the rhythm of the words. This is how I often read poetry. This is how poetry catches my attention. In the poem ” My Mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun” by William Shakespeare you will find that this flow that I am referring to. One thing that I know I need to improve on is not all poetry rhymes and has a “flow” so when this happens, I tend to have trouble understanding the poem. Especially if the language is not from the present day.

After the past two weeks, on a scale from one to ten, I would rate my ability to read poetry a six. I always loved poetry, but it’s always been challenge for me to understand at times. When I read some poetry, I grasp it right away.  At other times, I just don’t get what the poet is trying to convey.  During the past 2 weeks, I enjoyed reading poetry in class with the professor.  I like the way we break it down.  This is a great way to better understand the poem.  I enjoyed the poem “The Mother” by Gwendolyn Brooks. Breaking it down in class help me see things I wouldn’t have noticed, helping me to better understand and think about what the poet is trying to convey.  I think I learned how to break the poem down, but I think I still need lots more work in this area.

After the past 2 weeks on a scale from 1 to 10 I would rate my ability to read poetry a solid 7. I understand the poem very briefly, especially when there are words that were made by the poet themself and are not actually real like in the dictionary, I believe the poem about the man riding his horse in the snow, this situation came up. Most poems use language and word there words differently than I am used to, which is why it takes me a in detail break down for me to really understand it. If I try to break up the words that seem off to me and look at sounding words, I will be able to rate myself higher and re reading the poem at least 4 times would allow me to better grasp the meaning of it.

During COVID, people were fearful and seemed to turn on each other. Even if it was not intentional, especially with mandated social distancing, we all became wary of the next person’s actions. We also looked strongly to social media or experts highly respected in the medical field for answers. People became depressed, acted out in strange ways, distanced themselves from people in emotional ways, and partook in destructive behaviors. The population also began to distrust our government. This started with how they handled the beginning of the pandemic, followed by the BLM protesting, and continued to spiral from there. It all came to an intense head during the election and did not stop there. We are still seeing massive distrust in our leaders, and the pandemic seemed to be the catalyst. In Oedipus the King, the Thebans responded to the plague with fear and uncertainty, seeking help from leaders and experts. While they blamed each other and turned to religion. In looking at the commonalities of the story and our experience, there truly were not many differences. Both our modern society and the Thebans shared valid human emotions such as fear and anxiety, and we yearned for solutions for the problem.

During the two weeks of learning poetry I think I’ve been getting a little better at understanding . Being that I’ve always liked to write everytime I want to express myself it makes it easier to sometimes understand a poem that had a lot of feeling to it . During these two weeks I believe I can  still work on breaking poems down and understanding the literature terms that are being used in the poems .