Yearly Archives: 2024

In the past two weeks, we’ve focused on better understanding the meaning of poems. I’d say my ability to get poetry is halfway there. Poetry has always been a big hurdle for me in learning English. It’s hard for me to fully grasp the meaning behind the rhymes and the deeper messages. Also, figuring out what the unclear words in poems are supposed to mean is tough for me. So, usually, after I read a poem, I still don’t quite understand what it’s all about. But, I’ve found a way that helps. If I think of myself as part of the poem and read it out loud over and over, it starts to make more sense. This approach makes it easier for me to understand the poems. Before, poems felt like a puzzle I couldn’t solve. Now, by reading them out loud several times, I start to see what the poet might be trying to say. It’s like the poems speak more clearly to me this way. This new method has really changed how I see and understand poetry, making it a less daunting part of learning English.

When reading poetry I had always had trouble understanding what it is about. The wording that authors use when writing poetry always gets me confused. After these past weeks my understanding of poetry has became semi easier to understand. I have learned to break it down by each line and pay attention to every wording they use, sometimes it can be difficult but recalling paying attention it gets easier. I feel like poetry has grabbed my interest again, and made me want to read more poems because now I know how to understand poetry more better. I am not the best at reading and understanding poetry yet but I do know these ways in trying to understand. I think I need more practice with the wording they are using to write poetry, and also more patience trying to figure out each meaning of every sentence. I also need work on paying attention, every stanza has a bug meaning to the story.

During the Covid-19 pandemic which was now 4 years ago, a lot has transpired during that year. In the year 2020, when covid struck it hit like a bomb leading to millions of deaths of loved ones, no outside contact for months, police brutality, people acting out towards each other in fear of catching covid, schools shutting down, and for me personally and many others the robbery of my graduation. In comparison of the action/events that happened during covid to the reading ” Oedipus the King”, the priest says this line ” A deadly pestilence, is our town, strikes us and spears us not, and the house of Cadmus is emptied of its people while black Death grows rich in groaning and in lamentation”. This line from the priest is similar to how people were feeling during covid. During covid, people started to become fearful and paranoid of catching covid or getting their families sick. It was also a time that people started to have mental health problems, feeling trapped in their homes while also scared to go outside. For a lot of people Covid felt like a time of uncertainty and never knowing if we would recover from this pandemic, which caused a lot of problems for our nation and communities.

In my opinion I rate my ability to read poetry a solid 8 0ut of 10. I’m not a big poetry reader but the poems we read for class were quite interesting and good refresher to reintroduce myself into poetry. To improve my poetry reading ability I can start by reading the poem twice in row, paying attention to the rhythm and emotion, pausing when I come across unfamiliar words. These are all things I need to incorporate when I am reading different works of poetry. I don’t usually read poems or poetry but after reading the poems assigned like “The Mother” I started a newfound interest in poetry. This poem I actually read 3 times because I was able to feel the emotion of the poet. This poem was also a fairly easy poem to understand and find the meaning. Gwendolyn Brooks poem is describing a mother who chooses an abortion, who thens goes through the emotions and thoughts of what could of been memories of having a child.

When reading the story “Araby” I see how this boy has a crush on this girl but doesn’t; feel enough for her to like a kid like him. I can sort of relate to this story because during my 9th grade year I always admired this guy who was In 10th grade. Everyday going to school when the bell would ring I would see him walking through the same hall as me going to my next class. I never had the courage to actually speak to him, I always had that mindset of no one ever wanting me and not feeling enough for someone. Everyday I tried to “impress” him with the way I dressed but noticed he never looked at me which I felt invisible. Later on I heard stories of the type of person he was which made me feel different, he was way different from what I expected. It was disillusionment, ever since that day I lost all interest in impressing a person because you never know how they really are.

During the pandemic, I saw a mix of fear and resilience much like in Thebes. People hoarded supplies similar to the thebans’ desperation. Yet there was also incredible community spirit and support something less apparent in the play where the focus is more on seeking a singular cause and solution to their plague. The unity and shared sacrifice I witnessed were inspiring, contrasting with the isolation and blame in the play.

After the past 2 weeks, I can definitely without a doubt say that my ability to read poetry has greatly improved. I know I still have a very long way to go due to the fact that I haven’t read poetry in so long and it hasn’t been much to read, but it’s still very refreshing to read poetry again. I rarely if ever will read poetry on my own time so doing it for class re  introduces it. I still have to get better at identifying everything from a poem and getting the complete message from the poem, I realize that a poem can even be somewhat enjoyable to read. A very important habit I need to break when reading a poem is reading it very quickly because I have a tendency to quickly skim through everything that I read, but with poetry every stanza is important because missing one thing can completely throw just about anyone off.

In the story Oedipus the King, the people in the story went through a plague and tried to find a solution  . Like in lines 68-82  “I pity you, children. You have come full of longing, but I have known the story before you told it only too well. I know you are all sick, yet there is not one of you, sick though you are, that is as sick as myself. Your several sorrows each have single scope and touch but one of you. My spirit groans for city and myself and you at once. You have not roused me like a man from sleep; know that I have given many tears to this, gone many ways wandering in thoughts, but as I thought I found only one remedy and that I took. I sent Menoeceus’ son Creon, Jocasta’s brother, to Apollo, to his Pythian temple,* that he might learn there by what act or word I could save this city. This quote relates to Covid 19 and what was going on with the Americans because when Covid 19 started they quickly started looking for a solution to solve the problem for the sickness/disease that were killing people off . It caused great panic and that’s why guidelines had to be followed to prevent the spread .

I would say my ability to read poetry is still average, but I have the skills I need to improve my reading comprehension as well as my ability to understand a poem on a deeper level. For example, re-reading a poem a few times to be able to grasp every little detail of a poem, because they are short due to poems being so short a lot of details get glanced over but after re-reading a few times you can catch new details you’ve missed, and begin to understand the poets meaning of a poem clearer. This was one of my weaknesses in poems because I would skim quickly through them and at the end I would be confused and completely lost but if I practice re-reading and breaking down the poems I believe I would begin understanding poems better than before, for example, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost where I was completely confused but after the class went on I began to understand that the person literally stopped to take in the sights of the forest but he still has a long way to go to reach his destination.

in my opinion, my ability to read poetry has improved a bit these past two weeks. I feel this way because it’s been a while since I’ve sat down and read poems so it took some time for me to get used to decoding the meanings of poems. I felt this way especially when we were reading Stopping by Woods on a snowy evening by Robert Frost. although I feel like I’ve learned somethings from poetry this week I can still improve by keeping up with reading poetry in general to maintain that kind of ability to read.

In the last two weeks my ability to read English poetry has improved, but there still plenty to learn . Poetry helped me expand my vocabulary and understand literature better. I find difficult challenges in grasping metaphors and deeper meanings because of the vocabulary and used and way of using it in poetry. The language can be tough  and I need more practice to fully understand what the poet is trying to say. I’m also working on recognizing poetic devices like rhyme and imagery. I plan to keep reading and studying poetry to get better in general. I know practice is crucial with continued practice I believe I can learn more understanding and appreciation of English poetry. As an English learner I’m always learning something new about the language and literature, that’s why I think that I had been stock because of not practice my in English in a more social environment do to almost all the people I know speak Spanish.

When COVID was announced, the American population started to panic and everyone was in quarantine. I also witnessed that during COVID there was a shortage of toilet paper and hand sanitizer. The same thing happens in “Oedipus the King”, the people were worried about the virus. In contrast people were blaming China for the cause of COVID, just like Oedipus blames Tiresias and Creon for making plans without his consent. The people of Thebes saw the virus as a curse while we saw this as a virus. COVID has affected everyone as we were in quarantine for a while. People were questioning when the virus will be over and when will everything go back to the way they were. COVID was one of the big things that has happened to all of us. Once we were all out of quarantine after a while, things slowly start going back to normal again.

During  covid 19 everyone was on quarantine. i remember when nobody was allowed to go outside and everyone was fighting to get the essentials for their homes. i also remember when there was a lot of fear and panic during those times. just like in the story Oedipus the king. people were scare because of  The outbreak of the plague instills. Chaos, among the people of Thebes causing distress. The Priest paints a picture of the city’s condition lamenting, “Thebes is, in decline. A curse befalls our crops and fertile lands; livestock fall ill and perish while women face death during childbirth with newborns failing to survive. The relentless fever brought by the plague ravages our city. Then during the pandemic people feared of  catching covid and it spreading around the world.  another similarity  the American people had with the plague was the denial and blame. Oedipus and others initially deny their roles or knowledge in the curse afflicting Thebes. Oedipus even accuses Tiresias and Creon of conspiring against him. while americans and some other countries blamed China f or the start and spread of covid.

During the times and height of covid everyone was reasonably scared and confused. What I personally saw was people not knowing what exactly this virus was and how to properly protect themself from it whilst mourning their loved ones who unfortunately were victims of the virus. Comparing this the play “Oedipus the King” like when the people in the story were also scared and confused. Not knowing what this plague was and not understanding the deaths trying to put some reasoning behind it. “I know you are all sick, yet there is not one of you, sick though you are, 70 that is as sick as myself. “

During the pandemic I was still living in the Dominican Republic. I remember that people’s behavior changed a lot during the lockdown. I remember watching the news and seeing people acting desperate at the grocery store trying to buy as much food as they could so they could stay at home and not be exposed to the virus. The [lay showed how the people of Thebes were suffering because of the plague that was attacking their city. They went to their king Oedipus to ask him for help because a lot of people were dying as a consequence of the plague, as it is expressed in the next quote. [and the house of Cadmus is emptied of its people while black Death grows rich in groaning and in lamentation.”  I choose this particular quote because during the pandemic people were desperate to get medical attention to their loved ones that were sick of COVID. In my country, people used to go to important institutions to ask them for help to save their family members. That is why I choose this quote to connect how the desperation of a population makes them decide to go to an important person (in this case, Oedipus the king) to try to save their family members.

When the Covid-19 plague was brought to the attention of the American people, a widespread of panic and scatter took place. A comparison I found between the  American people during Covid-19 plague and the people of Thebes in “Oedipus the King”,  during their plague is that both people were desperate to find a solution to end the plague. Yes, the people of Thebes felt that their plague was a curse and our plague was a virus, both people wanted it to be over. I personally witnessed many states make social distancing a requirement when you were out in public, people wearing masks, and no toilet paper or other basic necessities that were needed. I also experienced deaths in my family and went through having Covid-19 personally twice. Now Covid-19 was a global issue but to the people of Thebes the plague was thought to be a curse due to the people ill ways.

During Covid, the behaviors of the American population that I personally witnessed was a worldwide worry and panic. No one knew how to handle this on their own, so like the people in Oedipus the King, they turned to the “authorities” or government because that’s who is there to protect and keep them safe. In contrast, during covid 19 we had Donald Trump as President. His responses to the pandemic were not very leader like and as we can see Oedipus was not very leader like either. Oedipus had killed his father and married his mother. Knowing this, the chaos that followed the pandemic and the plague in both cases were getting out of hand. In Oedipus the King, we see that he sent his brother in law to figure out a solution, like the government today. The President has people to do things for them in situations like these. The plague and pandemic are similar because it was a dark time for the citizens and for the government as well. No one knew the solution to this new problem.

As I think back of covid-19 days those days were really miserable for India as my homecountry where I was present that time.There were social distancing, people wear masks and there were no gathering and people were afraid to go out even if they have to buy something whereas in “Oedipus the King” the people in Thebes, the play depicts a city suffer with a deadly plague caused by curse.Comparing specific scenes, in Oedipus the King,the people of Thebes are desperate for a solution to the plague, evident in lines like “Each of you suffers in himself alone, not for himself,but for the city”. In contrast,during the Covid-19 pandemic,people faced a shared global issue,adjusting their lifestyle according to the situation.People of my countries followed the proper guidelines given by the government to protect themselves from covid-19.People in Thebes also took the measures to protect themselves from the deadly Plague.Both scenarios illustrate the complexity of navigating the balance between their lifestyles and managing their daily life.

When COVID was at it’s height, I still lived home in St. Thomas, USVI. As a US territory who’s main and only industry is tourism, we were a bit slow on the uptake of closing off our borders. Because of that, our island notice an uptake in “statesiders” (fellow US citizens who lived on the mainland/continental US) traveling to our island to vacation because of a current lack in mandates. It took as little as a month for their to be an identified case of COVID within the community, and three months for an upsurge in cases, forcing the USVI to close its borders indefinitely. Despite being a US territory and having confirmed cases, it was a bit difficult for our government to enforce mask mandates because of a lack of supplies (our inventories are usually shipped through Puerto Rico whose borders we also closed in light of the now global pandemic. However, once those regulations were planned out and essential workers we allowed to resume work both in Puerto Rico and the USVI, we were able to continue about life with a new sense of “normalcy” Similar to the citizens in Oedipus, our community immediately sought guidance from our government. Despite having a small number of cases initially, we understood how a “plague” such as COVID would negatively effect our only means of producing profit for the islands. In Lines 62-64, readers note that the community tells their king “You freed us from the Sphinx, Oedipus, our king; and in your care we find ourselves lifted from the surge of death.” Like those individuals we relied on our government now more than ever since our GDP tanked after all four islands were negatively impacted by category 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria no more than three years prior. As a […]

In the play “Oedipus the King,” the people of Thebes are struck by a deadly plague that leaves them desperate and vulnerable. They plead with their king, Oedipus, to find a solution to the epidemic. Meanwhile, Jocasta enters and criticizes Oedipus and Creon for their insignificant arguments during the crisis, asking, “Are you not ashamed to air your private griefs when the country’s sick?” (Lines 741-743). This emphasizes their mutual sense of urgency and the need to prioritize the greater good over personal disagreements. Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some Americans followed public health guidelines eagerly, while others opposed restrictions and emphasized personal liberation. This reflects the tensions in Thebes, where some characters, like the Priest and Jocasta, prioritize addressing the plague as a community. In difference, others, like Oedipus and Creon, are consumed by personal disagreements regardless of the bigger crisis. Both situations showcase the complicatedness of balancing individual rights with coordinated well-being during times of crisis.

During the Covid-19 pandemic I remember people being in a constant state of worry and panic. WHO urged everyone to wear masks and gloves and limit contact with people as much as possible to limit spreading further the virus. But there was a lot of controversies about the methods used by the government to deal with the outbreak, and people were also putting blade at the government for even starting the virus, especially the Chinese government. A contrast between how the American people and the people of Thebes in Oedipus the King is an how they approached their plagues. In Oedipus the King the people turned to their government (the king) who they fully trust in to help them discover how to deal with the plague and get rid of it. “We have not come as suppliants to this altar 35 because we thought of you as a God, but rather judging you the first of men in all the chances of this life and when we mortals have to do with more that man. You came and by your coming saved our city, 40 freed us from the tribute which we paid of old to the Sphinx,7 cruel singer. This you did… it was God that aided you, men say, and you are held45 with God’s assistance to have saved our lives.” Whereas in America people weren’t really sure if they could trust what the government says, especially when it came to the virus. Another contrast is that when the Covid 19 pandemic hit health organizations were already working on health precautions to take to keep everyone safe and reduce the death toll as much as possible, whereas the people in Oedipus went to their temples acquiring of their gods on how to stop the plague from affecting them. […]

I can personally relate to the young narrator in “Araby” by James Joyce because of the feeling of disillusionment. I feel like this feeling isn’t just invoked by someone who we admire to be a potential romantic partner but by many others scenarios in life. In the story, the protagonist gets infatuated with a girl who lives across the street from him. He always admired her from a far and had little to no real conversation with her, yet he felt these strong yearnings for her beauty and innocence. By the end of the story the protagonist ends up going to a bar that the girl told him about, he showed up to bring her back a gift since she couldn’t go. He was then faced with reality of feeling foolish, ashamed and disillusioned when the expectations of beauty and innocence were not met. I have felt this way before with job opportunities, as a sub para I have had my experiences where I had hope a school would keep me there for the rest of the year but then I’d be let go. Meanwhile the whole time I’m working there I would remain hopeful that I could secure a permanent spot, only to feel let down and disillusioned when I’m let go

The quote I have chosen to focus on is “Literature is not only a mirror; it is a map, a geography of the  mind” by Margaret Atwood. This quote embodies the story I have chosen to focus on which is Araby by James Joyce. To me the quote means that literature not only shows you who you are but also your thoughts and feelings as a writer, some writing pieces are very strongly written where you could tell the author feels strongly about what they’re sharing with us, as well as when they narrate for characters in certain writing pieces. In Araby James Joyce voices how the protagonist feels throughout this journey of emotions towards a stranger he is infatuated with. The author takes us inside the mind of the main character describing his thoughts and feelings, he is very eager and borderline obsessed with this girl til the end of the story where he starts to feel disillusioned. 

After thinking back to the COVID-19 days I noticed a big contrast in the way an outbreak was handled. In “Oedipus the King,” there’s a scene where the people of Thebes beg Oedipus to save them from the plague. They tell him, “You freed us from the Sphinx, Oedipus, our king; and in your care we find ourselves lifted from the surge of death” (Lines 62-64). This shows how much they rely on Oedipus to solve their problems, without taking much action themselves. In contrast, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a big focus on people taking responsibility for their health and stopping the virus from spreading. Public health campaigns encouraged things like wearing masks, washing hands, and getting vaccinated. While not everyone followed these guidelines perfectly, there was a big effort to teach people how to be responsible and safe.

“Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary.” by Boris Pasternak Literature reveals extraordinary qualities in ordinary people and expresses them uniquely, using everyday language. The poet Pasternak understood the challenges of balancing personal desires of a traditional community, particularly among the repressive atmosphere of the Soviet Union. This quote embodies my story “Another evening at the club” by Alifa Rifaat showing how a young woman has to except her parents arranging her marriage to an older man.  She has to be submissive to him. She has no freedom to do as she pleases. She even has to be submissive to her dad by listening to whatever he advises her to do. She is a young girl who was in school still, but her dad tells her she won’t be going to school any longer waiting for the day she gets married.

  Back during covid one of the big things were that people were scared to go outside. Even when people were outside they would avoid each other and if you were to cough then you would be given a look then people would slowly move away from you which can kind of be related to the play due to the fear of dying. Covid was a time where people were actually scared of dying on a worldwide scale. At one point it just seemed like there was no way to stop what was going on just like in the play when Oedipus said this . “But no man has power to force the gods to speak against their will.” in this way everyone predicted that death was coming and no one was able to stop what was going on. Covid was a really bad time I would hate for another pandemic to happen again.

“Literature is painting, architecture, and music” by Yevgeny Zamyatin. He’s saying that great literature does what those other art forms do it creates imagery words in your mind like a painting, it’s well constructed and flows smoothly like a building, and it stirs up emotions in you like listening to music, and we can see that in the story “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. With his detailed writing he paints these clear pictures in your head whether it’s the fancy ball scene or the hardwork life of the character ends up living later. One thing naturally leading to the next just like how the different rooms and spaces are connected in a well designed building flowing like music, the most powerful part is how de Maupassant takes you on an emotional ride as a reader. You start out feeling that excitement and hope when the character gets to live the classy life for a night. Then you go through the frustration and sadness as her life goes downhill. “The Necklace” brings together the quote of Zamyatin when he compared great literature to painting, architecture, and music.

During the global outbreak of the coronavirus, we all witnessed heart-wrenching stories firsthand, with countless people losing their loved ones, and many others passing away due to the lack of cooperation from others. In “Oedipus the King,” the people also suffered from a nationwide epidemic, just like us, placing their hopes on the national leader. However, as we have seen, no country’s policy was able to completely stop the plague, mirroring the torment experienced by the people in the story. Whether in reality or in stories, there will always be dissatisfaction and resistance, leading to more people getting hurt. During the pandemic, I lived in China, where everyone was quarantined at home, with no one allowed to go out. Everyone monitored each other, and the situation was initially very successful. In less than two months, the virus in cities was isolated, people wore masks outdoors, and used a special virus QR code to facilitate scanning and confirmation of health status. In 2020, when the whole world was quarantined at home, I could travel through various cities in China, walking in bustling night markets. But no one could accept being locked at home forever. I remember in 2021, when the coronavirus variant swept across the globe again, but this time the virus was not very harmful, many countries opened up policies, while China locked down the entire country again, with no one allowed to go out. However, a few months later, people realized that it was impossible to avoid infection, and began to resist. In Shanghai and Xinjiang, people started a series of resistance movements, known as the “White Paper Movement,” expressing their dissatisfaction with the government by holding up a blank piece of paper. Less than a week after the outbreak of the movement, China reopened, and no one escaped […]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health fears and social restrictions changed individuals’ communications and behaviors. Whether a person has lost their loved ones, struggled with isolation, was personally sick, or lost their job, each was affected differently. Throughout the pandemic, I observed many behaviors among the American people that can be likened to some characters in the play Oedipus the King. After the government commanded that people uphold various measures like wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and adhering to stay-at-home instructions, several individuals did exactly what was required. Conversely, some Americans did not strictly follow the government guidelines. In the play, there are instances of individual and collective suffering due to the plague; just like during COVID-19, people suffered individually and collectively. Accordingly, the American people turned to their leaders to save them from the pandemic, just like the people in the play turned to their king, Oedipus, to be saved. The priest pleads on behave of the people of Thebe, saying, “And now, Oedipus, our peerless king, all we thy votaries beseech thee, find, some succor, whether by a voice from heaven, Whispered, or haply known by human wit” (Lines 46-48). This is an indication of collective suffering denoted by the outbreak of Covid-19. Just like in the play, American people suffered collectively, leading to regular quarantines of people from the same families and different families. The obedience among the majority of Americans is likened to the character Creon in the play, which emphasizes obeying the government and the gods. His decision to follow Apollo’s prophecy and enforce the laid-down measures to rid Thebes of the plague can be likened to the American people who followed the WHO directives. On the other hand, there were various instances of defiance among individual Americans, just the Thebes. Some Americans went against the […]

The quote I chose for essay number two is “Reading makes immigrants of us all it takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere” by Jean Rhys. The story I have chosen that embodies this quote is “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. Firstly, I chose this quote because it describes how immersive the world of literature can be for readers or anybody. From stories, folktales, poems, and fables, these works of literature can have a reader transcend into the story. As if there actually in the story with the characters or imaging themselves as the main character. The story “The Necklace” embodies this quote, a story about a miserable housewife who believes she deserves the finer things of life, the riches and glam. Who is also married to a poor working man, who’s tries his best to provide for her and himself. The husband knows his wife, who’s wants to be living the rich life gets a invitation for a ball to be around the higher class. The wife whos ungrateful, guilted her husband into giving her money for a new dress, to hide the fact that she’s poor. She borrows a diamond necklace from one of her friends to impress the people at the ball. She ends up losing the necklace and her and her husbands has to work tirelessly to make money to afford a necklace. This is a story that makes you create a mental movie of how things went for the husband and wife.

The quote I picked was “It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature” by Henry James and this quote is embodied in  “The Necklace,”  story because if we didn’t know the backup information such as the timeline of when this story was taking place or how the two main characters got to be in a relationship and how the main character preferred everything to be high class then the story would not make any since, but because we had the history behind the characters and the setting it made it easier to understand it, and even though the story is generally pretty short, it still required a great deal of back up details (history) in order for it to run smoothly and allow the reader to better understand the message.

The quote I picked was “Literature is painting, architecture, and music” by Yevgeny Zamyatin. I picked this quote because I was able to effectively connect its meaning with the story of “Araby” by James Joyce. Due to the fact that Joyce used a lot of descriptive words and imagery to set up the setting, to describe a character, to adding different sounds in his writing. One part that stuck with me his when he was describing the sounds of raindrops when the boy was in the back of the drawing room and wrote “I heard the rain impinge upon the earth, the fine incessant needles of water playing in the sodden beds”. Using words like “impinge” and describing the raindrops as “fine incessant needles” can create a beautiful image to the reader of how real and vivid rain can be portrayed. This is why books are one of the most beautiful forms of art.

The quote that I choose to focus my second essay on is “Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it” (Lewis). I choose this quote because I do believe that literature is a beautiful way to express one’s reality. A way to deliver a message about what is happening, about something real. To me, it is also a powerful way to center your reader on the story that you’re telling by giving them descriptions of the scenario as well. The story that I felt was connected to this quote was “Story of An hour” by Kate Chopin. I choose that one because I feel that the details and the descriptions used inside of the plot is exactly what the quotes mean about how literature describes reality. I feel that the story and the quote are very well connected, that’s why I tried to do when I wrote the essay. It was a hard choice for me though, because they were a couple ones that I also liked.

“Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it”(C.S Lewis).  This is the quote I have chosen to use for my essay, which will be written based on the short story Araby, written by James Joyce’s. This quote connects all too well with the quote because throughout the story, we are shown the thoughts and feelings the narrator has for his friends sister through more than just words. The author heavily uses symbolism and imagery throughout the story, making her seem as without flaws in the narrators eyes, almost as if the girl is like the only star in a dark blank sky. Throughout Araby, we are shown just how important this girl really is too the narrator also due to the fact that the narrator wants more then anything for something to be different in his boring, depressing, bland life. The author also uses this by then showing how the narrators feeling for the girl we just fake, when he really just liked her because she appeared different and peaked his interest, nothing to do with him actually liking her because of the type of person she was,

For my second essay, I decided to choose the quote “Literature adds reality, it does not simply describe it.”I decided on this quote because I felt like it embodies the story of the necklace the most. In my opinion, the quote is describing what the story is doing to readers. The story The Necklace is not just simply describing a fairytale about something that wouldn’t happen. this story is talking about the reality of what occurs when you are preoccupied with gaining things that are out of your reach and how it affects you in the long run. this story could have also possibly been inspired by something that happened in someone’s real life. It also represents many people of today who are known for doing similar things the protagonist did in the story. I also believe this quote is in some way saying that literature adds to one’s life.

The quote, “Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it” was stated by C. S. Lewis, and it is the character of Mangan’s sister and the night of the bazaar in James Joyce’s “Araby” that brings the above quote to life. The girl is not merely a character; rather, she is a representation of beauty and purity, which demonstrates the protagonist’s deep desire for a life that has more significance. Through the usage of Mangan’s sister, Joyce is able to express stronger thoughts and emotions, hence making the story more meaningful and authentic. In addition, the author makes use of the expectation of the bazaar to demonstrate his disillusionment and his longing for something which is more significant or satisfying. This is an example of how literature can help us in gaining a more profound understanding of life, one that goes beyond what we view in the physical world.

The quote about literature that I have chosen for my literature essay is “Literature is not only a mirror; it is a map, a geography of the mind” by Margaret Atwood. One of the reasons I’ve chosen this literature quote is because it reasoned with me. It’s true that in literature we can learn a lot about ourselves. For my second essay I’ve chosen the story Araby by James Joyce to focus on, and I believe that the quote by Margaret Atwood is embodied in that story. In the story Araby we follow a young boy who has crush on a young girl and decides to go to a bazaar called Araby to buy her a gift to impress her. Through that story I could relate tho the narrator; it was like I saw myself in that story. Like the narrator I remember having a crush and them being the only thing on my mind. I would daydream about them and always admire them. The story Araby was like a mirror and me looking through seeing my younger self who used to always think of ways to impress my crushes. Also the second part of the saying literature “is a map, a geography of the mind” is true because through literature you can scan thorough your mind and see what kind of person you are. You can learn things about yourself you didn’t know you had in you.

I chose the quote, “Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary”. The story I chose was “The Necklace” by Guy De Maupassant. I believe this story connects with the quote I chose because the story shows how even common people can have interesting complicated lives, just like Madame Loisel. She looked like a simple woman at first, but as story went on, we see her desires and consequences they cause. In addition, the story gives a lesson about the differences between appearances, and reality, such as Madame Loisel’s attempt to seem wealthy even if she isn’t. In conclusion the story is simple worded, it is a interesting story showing us deep ideas and emotions that is shown through everyday language.

The quote that I’ve decided to choose was Literature is painting, architecture, and music by Yevgeny Zamyatin. This quote can relate to the story , “The Necklace” because the necklace is painting a life that is not always as it seems . It’s painting a picture as if life is always perfect . But with life you’ll always have to go through trials and tribulations.

The quote “literature is painting, architecture, and music” encapsulates the essence of “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin. Just like a painting, the story uses vivid imagery and descriptive language to create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. From the opening lines describing the scene outside Mrs. Mallard’s window to the portrayal of her emotions throughout the story, Chopin paints a rich and colorful narrative. Similarly, the structure of the story resembles that of architecture with its carefully crafted plot and precise arrangement of events. Each element is meticulously constructed to build tension and suspense, leading to the climactic revelation of Mrs. Mallard’s newfound sense of freedom. Another thing is the story evokes the emotional resonance of music, with its rhythm and tone creating a range of feelings in the reader. From the initial shock of Mr. Mallard’s death to Mrs. Mallard’s eventual realization of her own desires, Chopin’s prose strikes a chord with the audience, leaving a lasting impression even after the story ended. To summarize,” The Story of an Hour” embodies the multifaceted nature of literature, drawing upon elements of painting, architecture, and music to create a rich and immersive reading experience

“Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature and derided by vanity; and my eye burned with anguish and anger.” This is the quote I choose to focus on. The way this quote is embedded in the story is because this quote shows when the main character has his epiphany. This epiphany was what this story was about; it showed all of the young mans emotions and his thoughts about a girl who would never give him an actual chance and at the end of the story he realizes that he shouldn’t be doing what he was doing at the time. The main character realized that he was not in love with her but in love of the idea of her. He had a perception of her even though she acted like an older sister he took it as a sign that she really cared about him the same way he cared about her.

“Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it” is the quotation from C.S. Lewis that I have selected. And I will be connecting it to James Joyce’s short story “Araby.” Because of the author’s use of imagery, symbolism, and lyrical language, James Joyce’s short story “Araby” transforms a simple tale of a boy’s love into a deeper investigation of teenage determination to disappointment and the loss of youth. This quotation speaks directly to that process. While reading “Araby” at first it seems to be about the narrator’s trip to a local market and the feelings he has for his friend’s sister. But later, author Joyce goes on to incorporate many symbolic meanings; Joyce uses poetic language, such as “light from the lamp caught the white curve of her neck.” Joyce used literary strategies to elevate the story above a mere description and reveal more profound human realities. Like regarding the tension between childhood aspirations and reality. 

I chose the quote “Literature is not only a mirror; it is a map, a geography of the mind” by Canadian poet and novelist Margaret Atwood. The quote signifies how literature can lead the mind to a deeper understanding of how writing can be interpreted. For instance, James Joyce illustrated this in “Araby” by sharing his experience of his obsession with this girl who lived next door to him and how deep his feelings were for her. He showcased how his mind formed ideas and allusions to how he could’ve won this girl’s heart by traveling to an event that she wanted to attend but couldn’t. As he was on his way to the market, he realized later on that he was doing the absolute most for this human being and later changed his mind on how he felt towards her. 

The quote “Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it” by C.S. Lewis highlights the idea that literature goes beyond a straightforward representation of reality. Instead of just describing the world as it is, literature adds depth, meaning, and new perspectives to our understanding of reality. Through storytelling, symbolism, and exploration of human experiences, literature allows us to see into the complexities of life and gain insights that may not be apparent in everyday observations. It improves our perception of reality by offering unique analyses and inviting us to reflect on the human condition. Through storytelling, authors can explore different perspectives, challenge societal norms, and provoke thought. Literature allows us to step into the shoes of characters, experience their joys and sorrows, and gain insights that may not be with ease apparent in our own lives. It’s like having a window into different worlds and perspectives, expanding our horizons and inviting us to see the world in new and profound ways.

Hello professor, The quote that I have chosen for my essay is embodied in my story because it is what the theme of my story is based on .Literature gives you the ability to express literally anything you want in a way that uses words to display emotion and imagery by causing stimulation of the brain. I feel like the best way for one to embody any quite into writing is first, it is always better to go with a quote that you really can relate to so then you can have more to speak on. When I right about subjects that I am passionate about, the writing comes easy. After a while it just becomes  natural flow. Sometimes I have even have had to stop myself from writing to much on certain assignments. This can be both a good quality to have and not so good as well. Mostly just for assignments is where I have trouble with this but for A writer of literature this can be a really good qualification to have.

The quote I have decided to use for Essay 2 is: “Literature is not only a mirror, it is a map, a geography of the mind”, by Margaret Atwood and apply it to “The Necklace” by Guy de Maupassant. This story, which I later remembered having read when I was much younger, has stuck with me ever since we discussed it in class a few weeks back. Guy de Maupassant does a great job of demonstrating what mentalities or preoccupations people had at the time it was written and published. To be able to write such a carefully crafted story that very clearly depicted social issues, the author must have done his fair share of people watching. Once he was done observing the current state of affairs in the French bourgeoisie, he had to put it all down on paper and, for us, readers, create a rendition that was as true as possible. Through his words, we are able to get a glimpse of his world and his thoughts about it.

The quote about literature for my second essay was spoken by Margaret Artwood. She used this quote in her manifesto “Survival” in which she critiques the standards and themes commonly found in Canadian literature. While the quote  focused on the specifics of Canadian literature, her intellect and phrasing allows quotes such as “Literature is not only a mirror; it is a map, a geography of the mind.” to be applied in various spaces. I will use this quote as a basis for my analysis of “The Necklace” by “Guy de Maupassant.” As discussed in a few of the supplementary materials in our OpenLab course, Matilda’s fatal flaw in the story was her pride, and her insatiable need to upkeep appearances because of the society she lived in. We see her rash decisions and speculations revolving around the “right thing” to do, even if she never verbalizes it. Through her actions we see how her subconscious operates and the route she takes to achieve what she perceived to be as the “good ending.” Had this maybe been a different era of society, things could have end drastically different for her character, which emphasizes the notion that literature we read both serves as a mirror for human ideals and emotions during a specific era as well as another perspective of the human mind.

The quote about literature that I chose was “Literature is not only a mirror; it is a map, a geography of the mind” by Margaret Atwood. I chose this quote because it fits in the story “Araby” by James Joyce, as the story and the character’s narrator guides us  like a map through the character’s thoughts. The story is not just a mirror, it gives us an even deeper understanding of the character’s emotions. The story works as a map with all the thoughts and feelings the character has for this girl. The story has more meaning to it than just being a reflection. The boy had a crush on the girl throughout the story but at the end of the day he changed his mind on the way he felt. It’s like all these emotions made him realize something which changed the way he felt at the last minute.

The literature quote that I chose to use for my essay is the quote by C.S. Lewis, “Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it.” I picked this quote for the story ” The Necklace,” by Guy de Maupassant because of the similarities between the author and his style of writing for his short story and the meaning of the quote made by Mr. Maupassant. Maupassant used his writing to reveal his interpretation of people’s true nature. To me the quote means, Literature defines reality, which in simpler terms means that, reality can be interpreted by people based on their feelings. Madame Liosel in, “The Necklace,”  felt that because she felt because she had beauty she had been able to marry a man that was more wealthy. This part of the story gave description to her reality which was, even though she had beauty she was unhappy due to feeling like she married beneath her.

The quote I have chosen is by Boris Pasternak it states “Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary.  This quote is perfect for my story choice because it does tell us something extraordinary about ordinary people. “Another Evening at the Club” employs ordinary words to unveil the extraordinary inner struggles of a middle-aged woman.  A woman who has needs, and personal desires. Desires that she really isn’t allowed to even speak about. There are societal constraints, and longing for personal fulfillment. This story uncovers how women had to listen to the man of the house, back in those days. Men are the head of the household.  The women had to listen to their husbands. They didn’t have their own independence. They wanted their independence back. Literature is an art, it helps us to discover a whole new world thru their words.

The quote by Boris Pasternak can be applied to the story, “The Necklace.” The quote states that “Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary.” The story starts by introducing this ordinary woman who married an ordinary man. Although the story continues to give details about this woman and her thoughts about a rich life. She constantly thought of a perfect life for her, which can be said for many people. That is what makes her ordinary. However, to her surprise, this lavish life costs her ten years of her life from one night of fun. The quote can be applied because this woman was ordinary. Yet the story gives an extraordinary summary of her story and how her dreams got the best of her. This literature quite truly takes an ordinary woman and her story and puts it into extraordinary words to read.

The quote I choose is from C.S. Lewis,”Literature adds reality, not just describe it.” is relate to the story “The Necklace”(Maupassant). Literature is not just describing a story, it adds into our reality, it helps us to think deeper on the choice we might take, and the consequences that might come for us. In the story, (Ms. Loisel) Her vanity led her and her family to pay a terrible price, spending ten years to repay the necklace. At the end of the story, she finally realized that the necklace was a fake, worth at most 500 francs, but the ten years she and her husband lost would never return to them. Literature not only describes stories; its metaphors constantly warn us in reality, allowing us to observe from a third-person perspective the consequences that foolish decisions might bring.

The quote “The Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it” aligns well with “Araby” story by James Joyce as the story explores the transformative power of imagination and the impact of literature on shaping one’s perception of reality.The main character in James Joyce’s “Araby” experiences the quote in a similar way. The narrative follows the youngster as he develops feelings for Mangan’s sister, his neighbor, and his romantic aspirations skew his view of the world. His readings provide his perspective of the world a creative layer that heightens the appeal of the bazaar, Araby. The stark reality of the marketplace clashes with his expectations, demonstrating the transformational power of books in forming his thinking. The narrative emphasizes how literature affects people’s interpretations and experiences of reality in addition to describing it. Joyce examines the intricate relationship between literature and reality through the boy’s trip, highlighting how perception is subjective and how imagination shapes our understanding.

The quote about literature that I have chosen is by C.S Lewis: ” Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it.” In “the Necklace” by Guy De Maupassant, this quote t is distinctively embodies through the depiction of human desires, the consequences of decisions, and the exploration of societal values.Through the personality of Mathilde Loisel, De Maupassant digs into the complexities of human desires, showing how aspiration for wealth and social position shape individual lives. Mathilde’s persistent quest for a luxurious way of life drives her to get a precious diamond necklace, setting off a chain of occasions that radically modifies her reality. furthermore the profound consequences of Mathilde’s decisions Her decision to hide the deficiency of the necklace dives her family into monetary ruin, testing the thought that material wealth equates to satisfactionOverall, “The Necklace” enriches our understanding of reality by delving into the intricacies of human nature and the far-reaching impacts of individual choices, thereby exemplifying C.S. Lewis’s assertion that literature adds depth to our perception of reality rather than merely reflecting it.

The quote that I chose as “It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature” by Henry James. This quote corelates with the short story “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin. In this story, we see Mrs. Mallard responding to her husband’s sudden death. We are not given any further description on her circumstances other than a description of what she looks like, that she has a heart condition, and what her thought process is. We also know the time period in which it was written, and that it was written by a woman. Even though it is not written, the reader would know based on these bits of information that it was frowned upon for women to not be married during this time period. Historically speaking, widows were able to have more autonomy over their own lives at that time, especially when their late husbands were well off.    

  In the compelling short story “Araby” by James Joyce, the author encourages readers to examine the intricate character of the nameless narrator and the complexity of the human condition.   What’s ineffective about this sentence is that the writer is being general rather than being specific to what they are trying to say. The writer also seems to be complimenting the story which is something we shouldn’t do. I would rewrite it in a way for the sentence to be more specific. In the story “Araby”, James Joyce wants the readers to see the amount of complex the character of the nameless narrator is and puts the readers inside of the characters mind to truly see the characters thoughts and feelings. It gives us more detail about what’s going on with the character, this gives the story and the character meaning as it helps us expand the story’s idea its trying to give the reader.            

The assertion needs explicitness, neglecting to give proof to help the creator’s goal of clarifying the complexities of the human condition. It needs clearness with respect to the intricacy of the actual condition and depends excessively intensely on the writer’s point of view, which ought to be induced by perusers as opposed to expressly expressed. Also, it ignores the elements adding to the intricacy of the condition. To improve the adequacy, the updated adaptation ought to dive into the points of interest of the condition, its effect on character advancement, topical components, phonetic procedures utilized, the hero’s battle with adoration initiated visual deficiency, and the significance of character names as huge subtleties.

In the compelling short story “Araby” by James Joyce, the author encourages readers to examine the intricate character of the nameless narrator and the complexity of the human condition. Instead of complimenting or critiquing the author’s book because we already know it’s a good book, I would skip that part and go straight into the book’s name or the author’s name. Next I will explain more … like how does the author encourage us the reader to examine the character ? or why do we even need to examine the character ?How does examining the character help us figure out or connect with the complexity of the human condition?     With the revising it should maybe look something like this…        In the short story “Araby” by James Joyce the author introduces the nameless narrator and the main character of the book is a very complicated and detailed thinking person. Throughout the story the author encourages the readers to examine the character and the overall complexity of the human condition by using the characters inner dialogue in an attempt to understand the charterers thoughts, and feelings throughout the story

Other than a discussion about economic disparity, lack of equal opportunity, racial inequity, and other broad social issues I would probably write an essay about “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara discussing and focusing on how the main character acts and thinks. From what the story provided it seems as though the main character does not have a mom or dad. Which makes me think that the main character probably had a hard life and in their life some things are out of their control , but with her friend group she is the one in charge and the one who makes the discussions. Like the times in your life when things aren’t going too great and you feel like you can’t do anything about it, but you still have something under your control and you clutch on to that, and when there are new changes you feel uncomfortable , lost and confused like how the main character was reacting to here friend speaking up and the main characters new thoughts while coming back from the school trip. I think I would title this essay “Out of my control “ or “ the fear of the unknown”

Read the following sentence from a student essay. In the compelling short story “Araby” by James Joyce, the author encourages readers to examine the intricate character of the nameless narrator and the complexity of the human condition. What is ineffective about this sentence? In my opinion, this sentence is ineffective because it is too general and the writer only mentions what you can learn from the story but not what it’s about to get you to that point where you learn something from it. How might you rewrite it in a way that offers specific details that would be informative to a reader? If I could rewrite it I would do it in a way where I mention what happens to support why I feel that way. For example In the short story “Araby” by James Joyce, the author encourages readers to follow the journey of a young boy who gets infatuated with a girl and what can come from it.

What I believe is ineffective about this student’s sentence is that it doesn’t give readers much information about the short story “Araby” by James Joyce to understand the statement made. I believe that a little bit more details describing the narrator would have been helpful to the sentence’s effectiveness. What this sentence is lacking is details; information to support the statement. The student mentions that “…the author encourages readers to examine the intricate character of the nameless narrator and the complexity of the human condition.” Upon what information is their statement made? That information should be included in their sentence to strengthen it. Here’s how I would rewrite it to offer specific details that would be informative to a reader: In the compelling short story “Araby” by James Joyce, the author encourages readers to examine the intricate character of the nameless narrator who’s only joy seem to come from fantasying of a young girl  from his neighborhood and getting her a gift  from the araby, and the  complexity of the human condition.

The sentence presented is ineffective because it la ls specifics . It doesn’t really grabs the readers attention and doesn’t really explain the topic of what was given . I would probably rewrite the sentence like this “Dive into the captivating world of James Joyce’s ‘Araby,’ where the nameless narrator’s profound complexities mirror the intricate layers of the human experience, beckoning readers to explore the depths of the soul.”

In the line provided above, I would say that it is ineffective because it is vague and does not provide any precise explanation for the complexity of the unnamed narrator’s character or how James Joyce’s in “Araby” showed the complexity of the human condition. From my perspective, It states more of an assumption without offering proof or instances to back it up.    If I were to rewrite it, this is how I would do it. In “Araby,” by James Joyce, a complex figure out of the anonymous narrator who exposes the delusions of youth is created. The narrator’s romanticized feelings for Mangan’s sister are very clear, and they stand in for teenage love ideals. But when his attempt to purchase a gift fails, his dreams are finally crushed, which starts showing the difference between dreams and realities at a young age. Joyce sheds light on the common experiences of youth, He shows us a clear way of letting us see the depressing maturity some have by describing how the narrator’s dreams are crushed upon meeting the harsh realities of adulthood. This emotional journey shows the greater human complexity involved in finding a way out of difficult situations.   

In the student essay about “Araby” by James Joyce, the student should specify the human condition that is being discussed. Also, the sentence is vague and doesn’t go into details, backing what the student is trying to comply. The student also doesn’t explain how the author encourages readers to examine the details that is being mentioned. If I was to rewrite in a way that offers specific details, I would include how the author encourages readers. I would also include the human conditions to give the readers an insight of the story more. I would explain how the narrator’s character is intricate, that would give more background information about the narrator to better help explain to someone who hasn’t read the story. Overall, the student’s sentence needed a few specific details to get the perfect sentence.

The sentence could be more effective with specific details about the narrator and how the story explores the human condition. A rewrite might be “In Araby, Joyce delves into the psyche of a young boy, revealing the disillusionment of youth through vivid imagery and a poignant quest for meaning.” The original sentence is a bit vague because it doesn’t provide concrete examples of how Joyce explores the narrator’s character or the human condition.

The sentences effectiveness lies in its ability to capture the essence of “Araby” precisely showing not only the intricacies of human emotions but also how James Joyce portrays this theme through the narrators experiences. By focusing on the narrators infatuation and subsequent disappointment the sentence directly highlights the psychological voyage at the heart of the tale. This journey, characterized by the disparity, between aspirations and harsh realities faced by the narrator serves as a representation of humanity grappling with lifes imperfections on a scale. Joyces storytelling technique, delving into the world of the narrator becomes a means to delve into themes like longing shattered illusions and loss of innocence. This narrative approach enables readers to recognize how personal encounters mirror truths enhancing their grasp of aspects within the story and mankind’s complex existence. The thorough rephrasing not clarifies themes within the narrative but also encourages readers to delve deeper into character development and engage with its relevance concerning personal growth and humanity’s quest, for self discovery.

In the compelling short story “Araby” by James Joyce, the author encourages readers to examine the intricate character of the nameless narrator and the complexity of the human condition. Please answer the following 2 questions: What is ineffective about this sentence? How might you rewrite it in a way that offers specific details that would be informative to a reader? In all honesty, the line does not offer any information regarding the manner in which the author demonstrates the complexity of the nameless individuals or the way in which it makes it difficult. I have a feeling that if I were to write this in a different way, I would preserve everything that is in this line, but I would add a transition word that would lead into me talking about cases where the author displays the complexity of the nameless character. After that, I would either supply direct quotes or paraphrase the cases, and then I would follow up with an analysis that is connected back to the claim that I made initially. In the compelling short story “Araby” by James Joyce, the author encourages readers to examine the intricate character of the nameless narrator and the complexity of the human condition by showing the character in a constant battle between desire and reality vs fantasies. This can be see when….  

Hello professor. First, I would like to say what is ineffective about this sentence is that it does not go into enough detail. We have no idea what the writer of the sentence is talking about other than theirs a nameless narrator and we are to analyze their character in a condition we know nothing of. The statement is way too broad. In order for your readers to understand the perspective in which he or she wants to direct the readers, especially in your thesis statement, it is very import to express and briefly describe the relevant dynamics of the story. If this sentence had to be re-written by myself. First I would analyze the original statement that was made and get more into detail by breaking each part down into individual parts. For example, In the beginning of the sentence the writer starts off by telling us about the author’s intentions that he has for his readers of his book “Araby”.  After introducing the author I would have gone into some greater detail of where he was born and his age as I would with he rest of the sentence. There was a lot of information that could have been included here.

The sentence is ineffective because it is a generalized statement. The sentence does not offer any details to support its claim about the author trying to get her readers to understand the complexity of the human condition. It offers no details about what the condition is either. The sentence is also ineffective because it is trying to tell us the authors point of view which is not the readers job. Also the sentence did not explain what made the “condition” complexed? If I were to rewrite the question I would include details about what the condition is and how that effects the characters development and his development. I also will include details about the different themes and languages used in the story. I also will included information about why the boy was blinded by love and his struggles with reality. I also would include the characters names, since that is important details also.

This sentence is ineffective because its too general and the readers get no information about what they are reading. It tells the reader that it is a compelling story but what does that actually mean, you can say something is compelling but is it actually? The sentence is so general that I personally would have no interest of reading because it has nothing to hook the reader in, it is only just an opinion of the story and nothing more. The way I would rewrite this sentence is In the story araby a young man goes through life and has an epiphany that changes the way he feels about others. This sentence provides some context about the story without giving away too much or leaving too little. This sentence encourages the reader to find out about this young man and the epiphany that he had in the story.

The sentence is too general, leaving out the actual context details, making it ineffective to communicate the author message. The description of the given sentence is ineffective lacking the real opinion of the student giving a profoundless sentence, because of the overwhelming generalization of the sentence. I will try to provide more details from the story, mentioning the characteristics of the author’s message, would offer more informative insight into the character’s development and the main themes of the human condition shown in the narrative, sharing  the story main points , key scenes and moments to really communicate my ideal opinion of the story.

What is ineffective about this sentence? What I think is ineffective about this sentence is, sentence doesn’t really show what the story is about.  It’s too general and could be about any story.  The sentence lacks the clarity and detail needed to capture the essence of the story.  It fails to introduce the main characters by name or provide any description of their complexities, leaving the readers questioning who the intricate character is and what aspects of the human condition are being explored.  Additionally, the use of the word “compelling” is subjective and unnecessary. This word is just someone’s opinion and shouldn’t be used at the beginning of a sentence. How might you rewrite this sentence it in a way that offers specific details to improve the clarity and detail would rewrite the sentence to include character names, describe their complexities, specify the aspects of the human condition being examined, and avoid subjective terms like “compelling”.

For one, praising Joyce’s ability to captivate readers isn’t needed. For another, the particular intricacies of the narrator’s character and where the complexity of “Araby” lies can be detailed without a leading sentence like the above one. I get the impression of trying to couch oneself in what this writer presumes to be widely-held opinions when they’re faced with their lack of a decently-stringed thesis. Offering specific information easily cuts fat like that sentence. After all, a lack of confidence is remedied by finding something, anything, that’s enveloped within itself enough to fit in one sentence. Then one can do that again, a second time, a third, and ideally pierce a common thread through them all. e.g. If I find and pull together many co-occurrences relating to “blindness” peppered through the text everywhere from actions to settings, I might allude to that in what seems to be the first sentence of an essay. James Joyce’s short story “Araby” follows a nameless young boy who, blinded by the light of a “love” that he can’t place in reality, stumbles into the darker corners of his world.” If not super rooted in facts for an introductory sentence, I think that the concrete details therein can evoke the question “What does that mean?” in a way that trusts in the following paragraphs will hold (subjective) answers.

This sentence lacks any personality of the story being talked about in this essay. It is a very general sentence and could be about any story. It also has the word compelling, which I think is an unnecessary addition to the sentence. The sentence doesn’t give the characters’ names or any description of the complexity of the human condition in this story. The sentence also doesn’t give an example or explanation of what the reader is examining about this no named character. Reading this sentence my questions would be; Who is this intricate character? What are we examining? What about the complexity of the human condition? What condition is this? If I were to rewrite this sentence, I would give details to the characters and provide their name. I would describe the human condition and why that is important. I would also take out compelling from the first part because I think that’s an opinion and that should be left up to the reader. In addition, When referring to the author I would use their last name.

The sentence from the student’s essay “In the compelling short story “Araby” by James Joyce, the author encourages readers to examine the intricate character of the nameless narrator and the complexity of the human condition” shows a few ineffective elements. The first one is the student used “compelling short story” now I believe we all know Professor Conway will only pick compelling stories, which means the beginning sentence is starting off weak. The second issue the student basically listed off what the body of the essay is going to be instead of putting in some creative thinking where the body of the essay would explain that creativity. I would rewrite the sentence like this; In “Araby” by James Joyce, the author tells a story about a young boy who falls deeply in love, but he is so in love that it leads to him being distracted from his own life leading to disappointments.

The sentence that the student gave was ineffective. This is because all the student did was just state what the author did, with no explanation whatsoever. as to what the author was trying to do. If someone including myself, were to read it, they would have no idea as to what the student was trying to express. If I were to Rewrite this students sentence, I would include how the nameless narrator has a crush on his friends sister, and the way he momentarily see’s life differently when simply either thinking of her or being around her. He completely begins to become lonelier and lonelier, distancing himself from even his friends all due to the fact of how much he imagines of the girl he is “in love with”. The sentence could also have the development of the character from the beginning of the story to the end, something as simple as mentioning how he believed he was in love with his friends sister, not realizing that he was just intrigued due to him wanting something more and different.

In my essay about “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara I would write about the strong discrimination in the story, for example “Miss Moore was her name. The only women on the block with no first name. And she was black as hell, cept for her feet, which were fish-white and spooky” (Bambara). The way the kids describe her negatively by using strong words like hell to describe the color of her skin is shocking. Also, in the beginning of the story the kids made fun of her appearance for being different in town for having nappy hair, proper speech, and walks around with no makeup and then they compared her to a homeless man near the area which they call “the junk man”. The title I will give my essay is “Ignorance of Skin Color”, I will name my essay this because the children in the story don’t really know how successful Miss Moore is, she has a degree and speaks properly but just because of her skin color they see her negatively.

I Think the student sentence is very unclear and general, and somewhat lacks specific details because the sentence is not explaining what the author actually wants to say or how the human condition is actually complex in the story.If I had to rewrite this sentence I would write about that how did views of unnamed character changes on love and reality.After first romanticizing Mangan’s sister, his disenchantment reveals more aspects of his personality. As they accompany the protagonist on her trip, readers are forced to confront the complexities of the human condition, including the depth of desire, the bitterness of disappointment, and the process of self-discovery. Through painful moments, such as the protagonist’s revelation at the bazaar, Joyce promotes investigation into the complex facets of human emotions and goals woven within the story of “Araby.”So, i would have written these details so that the reader would know what is actually happening in the story and would get clear view of that.

I think the sentences from the student is too general, it didn’t show any specific detail to provide what did author really trying to say. The sentence is ineffective because the student should give some details to let the reader get related to the story, but the student only post out his own opinion without any details. If I am going to rewrite the sentences, I will try to provide more details from the story, like how did the main character felt heartbreak after he went to the market and how did he realize the relationship between him and the girl. to provide these details will help reader get into the story and not to confused about why did character grown up in one night.

This sentence from a students essay is ineffective because it is too vague and not specific enough. The sentence is ineffective because it is not explaining what the author is trying to say or his message. It’s simply a general statement that doesn’t give the reader much understanding of what’s going to be talked about. This statement also makes for a bad and ineffective thesis statement. Just stating the author wants us to examine the character of the narrator and intricacy of human condition. With no context or background to support leaves the reader and myself confused. It needs to be more specific so the reader can be able to understand the point of view of the writer. To improve it someone could say, “In James Joyces ‘Araby’, Joyce wants readers to understand the protagonist actions/emotions while dawning on a disillusionment with adolescence while also having a crush on Mangan’s sister.

The sentence is ineffective because its not specific and doesn’t provide any concrete examples or evidence to support the claim about the story’s themes. To improve it, someone could rephrase it to include specific details about the narrator’s experiences and the themes explored in the story. For instance, someone could say, “In James Joyce’s ‘Araby,’ readers are prompted to dive into the complexities of the protagonist’s psyche as he navigates his infatuation with Mangan’s sister and his disillusionment with the reality of adulthood.” Also, mentioning key scenes or moments from the story, such as the narrator’s reflections on his feelings for Mangan’s sister or his disappointment at the bazaar, would offer more informative insight into the character’s development and the main  themes of the human condition shown in the narrative.

This sentence in this student’s essay is a bit bland. When stating a thesis in an essay, one must share a small summary behind the story that they are writing their essay on for readers to have a much clearer understanding of what to expect when reading the essay. After the summary of the story is presented, then a valid thesis statement, breaking down how the reader views the author’s ways of presenting things can present the reader with a clear note of what to expect when reading the prompt. By what’s presented here in this thesis, readers would be a bit confused as to what this writer is referring to, as there isn’t any context behind it. If I were to rewrite this thesis, I would state my thesis as “In the story of Araby, Joyce presents how the events of an individual’s life, can create such mythical conceptions in the human mind”.

The sentence from the student’s essay is too vague, by just stating that the story examines the narrator and the complexity of human condition doesn’t give insight as to how that is being done. For starters we know the narrator is anonymous and they don’t tell us how the narrators acts or even displays any signs of his complex actions. I would instead say The story “Araby” illustrates how a crush or longing for someone creates a sense of obsession. In the story the narrator shows cases of obsession and stalking. “I ran to the hall, seized my books and followed her. I kept her brown figure always in my eye and, when we came near the point at which our ways diverged, I quickened my pace and passed her.” – Araby. This quote is significant because it shows the lengths the narrator went to, to be in her presence. Another example would be caring so much that he gave his hopes up going to the Bazaar to give her a gift.

This sentence is too general and is not saying anything concrete about the story itself. If you are not familiar with the story you can not get what this sentence means. This sentence is not giving specific details, or communicating in any way what happened in the plot of the story in a way that someone can make a connection from. It needs to be more specific, so the reader that is not familiar with this story can get the writer’s point of view. Another factor that makes this sentence ineffective is the choice of words, words that are too broad. When I read this sentence I went like “what does this even mean.” I couldn’t understand what this person was talking about, even though I read the story.  If I had to rewrite this sentence, I would correct it as: In “Araby” by James Joyce, the tone that the narrator uses is aimed to express a character that is going through a melancholy’s life.

If I were to write an essay that would be less focused on the social-economical problems in the story “The Lesson” and more about the actual story itself, I would focus more on the symbolism that is shown in the story, more notably the toy store. The main reason that I would focus on the toy store is due to the fact that it was a perfect representation of the separation between those that are more fortunate to have, and those who don’t. It wasn’t all about just the money that someone had and how it represented the difference between rich and poor, but more so the different level of opportunities that someone with more money has over someone with less. The toy store also helps the main character realize how much more experiences wealthy people with money have over those that are poor. This eventually helps her grow as a character as she realizes this.

The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara could explore character development and narrative technique nuances. First-person narration provides an intimate glimpse into the protagonist’s personal growth and realization. Additionally, the essay could delve into symbolism within the story such as the sailboat in the toy store which might represent the distant and unattainable world of wealth and luxury for the characters

In an essay that delves into more, than just socio issues one could explore the dynamics of family relationships, personal growth and how the setting impacts character development in a story. A thought provoking approach might be to consider how both the physical and emotional environments characters navigate play a role in shaping their journeys, decisions and transformations. Themes such as self discovery the complexities of relationships and the subtle influences of settings on storytelling could be analyzed. A suitable title, for this type of essay could be “Exploring Deeper; Character Growth and Setting Influence in Narratives”. This title hints at an examination of characters evolution and the importance of their surroundings offering a take beyond just focusing on socio economic aspects.

In my essay, I would explore how the environment and circumstances surrounding children influence their growth and development. I would also delve into the challenges they face and the mistakes they make, emphasizing the struggles of life. I would also add insight into their thoughts and motivations, giving the reader a glimpse into the minds of the children. While I would add some casual details to ease the tone, I would also touch on the tragic aspects and maybe explore how childhood experiences shape the adults they become and how these adults pass on these lessons to their own children. Eventually, I would demonstrate how children strive through life’s challenges and never give up. The title of my essay would be “Journey Through Life’s Challenges: Lessons Learned,” which sums up the idea that children learn valuable lessons from challenging experiences that stay with them throughout their lives.

Toni Cade’s “The Lesson” covers many societal issues, emphasizes the need of education, and has many hidden meanings. But what first drew my attention was the writing style. The story is engaging to read because of its important elements and details. The story is told by the main character, Sylvia, in her own words, and it has an intriguing conversational flow. The story also has a great way of symbolism. For example, the way money is mentioned frequently, for instance, it hints to something far more important. “Toys and Tales” is the title I would give this tale. I chose this title because I think the most important lesson was learned in the toy store, when they observed how their lives differed from those of people who could afford them.

In Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson,” there’s more to uncover than just the obvious socio-economic themes. Beyond the surface, symbols like the toy store Fao Schwarz highlight the contrast between childhood innocence and adult realities. Characters like Sylvia and Miss Moore add depth, showing the struggle between understanding injustice and resistance. The setting of Harlem itself becomes a character, embodying the community’s hopes and challenges. Through simple language and realistic dialogue, Bambara paints a vivid picture of life’s complexities. In essence, while economic disparity is important, the story offers insights into human relationships, aspirations, and the journey to understanding the world around us.

In “The Lesson” by Toni Cade it discusses a lady by the name of Ms.Moore that take the children in her neighborhood on a trip and teach them a “lesson” which was showing them the socioeconomic difference that they are not used to. Teaching them this lesson is very important because it causes the children to be aware of  how unequal money distribution is. Now prior to this lesson the children were not too fond of Ms.Moore. However, what I want to highlight is how the use of language and how it helps develop the story. The language and use of AAVE give the story a sense of familiarity and relatability to me because we can see how close minded the narrator was originally to her eventually grasping the lesson at hand. The narrator uses insults and explicit language to get her irritation across which helps the readers understand the narrators emotions and annoyance. The title I would give this essay is “AAVE and Economic Disparity”.

If I was writing an essay, I would write about the characters language, tone, and personality. I think these are interesting topics to write about because, it can help a reader connect with the story and characters. Sometimes people struggle when writing due to not being able to see themselves in the stories. This also may be why, sometimes, readers have a hard time writing about what they’ve read, because they have a hard time relating with the characters since their personalities might differ. Also, readers might struggle with the language that the author chooses to use for the characters in their stories because they might not be used to the type of language the author is using. The tone of a story is also important because if readers don’t understand the tone of a story then important details can be missed, overlooked, or misunderstood. This is why I would choose to write about the characters language, tone, and personality.

A Chat GTP-generated essay on “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara would probably discuss economic disparity, lack of equal opportunity, racial inequity, and other broad social issues. If I were to write an essay about “The Lesson,” I would name it “The Unknown Path.” I would call it this because Miss Moore had taken them on that trip to the store to show them this world beyond the world they live in. This gave them options and things to think about for their sake. Our narrator doesn’t seem fond of Miss. Moore even though most do. In “The Lesson,” Miss Moore takes them to a place where it is challenging to watch, but not touch. I think this is perfect for students because upon getting there, they wanted everything. However, the prices changed their minds. Our narrator seems threatened that everything is out of reach. She missed the lesson, which was one day you could be buying whatever you want. “The Lesson” gives a powerful, “You can do whatever you put your mind to ” mentality.  

If I were to write an essay that focused less on the socio-economic issues in the story “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara and more on important details and elements I would most likely write it on how she used symbolism throughout her essay and how it connects to the bigger themes. The symbolism with money which is recurring serves as a symbol of power And privilege, she also shows how the children interact with money. The toy store also symbolizes wealth which I feel highlighted a big contrast between her neighborhood and other neighborhoods that had more money. I believe that when a writer adds things like symbolism and metaphors it really adds depth and gives the readers something to think about rather than surface-level reading ultimately leaving readers more engaged in the story. The title of my essay would be something like “Priceless prices” or maybe “Money problems”

After devouring Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson,” I am compelled to explore the intricate development of characters, specifically Sylvia and her changing perception of her societal status. As the narrative unfolds, we witness Sylvia, initially portrayed as a confident and audacious leader, struggle with the harsh realities of her financial predicament. It is through Miss Moore is careful mentoring and thought provoking inquiries that Sylvia’s eyes are opened to the stark contrast between her own economic standing and that of her peers, highlighted by her unease in a lavish toy store. Through Sylvia’s inner musings and interactions, we are captivated by the evolution of her understanding of the profound lesson being imparted. As this critical moment unfolds, Sylvia’s realization dawns upon her that her family’s financial burdens restrict their potential. Aptly titled “Character Analysis of Sylvia in ‘The Lesson” the thorough examination delves into Sylvia’s transformation towards enlightenment and empowerment emphasizing how her character becomes crucial to the story.

I might write something along the lines of how children are influenced by the world around them. My essay would emphasize the growth that the children go through. It would show trials and errors, and all of the trouble they go through in life. it would go into detail of the children’s thoughts and motives. The essay would have some cometic moments to lighten the mood a little but I think I would make it from an adult standpoint looking in so it probably would get a little bit dark in certain aspects of it. I would write how they grow up to be in the future and how past experiences shaped them in their adult life. Also I would try to show how they teach kids of their own about challenges one faces in life. The title that i would come up with is trials and tribulations.

The story “The Lesson” by Toni Bambara was a insightful read that required me to read between the lines to be able to grasp the lesson that was being taught. Miss Moore an educated women who carries herself different from most people in the communities. Takes eight kids on a field trip to a expensive toy store to show the difference in social class. To help the kids understand the wealth gap between african americans and white people. “Where we are is who we are, Miss Moore always pointin out. But it don’t necessarily have to be that way, she always adds then waits for somebody to say that poor people have to wake up and demand their share of the pie and don’t none of us know what kind of pie she talking about in the first damn place”. Miss Moore is expressing how where your from does not define who you are or what you’ll become. The opportunitiy to change your circumstances  is something you have to be willing to take. After reading this story, I would name my essay “Escaping poverty and its mindset”.

If I had to write a story about this I will title the essay “harsh reality”. Like the side character Sylvia was shocked like how a person can spend a thousand of dollars on just toys as she belonged to poor family and cannot afford that toy. Even though when she asked Miss Moore that how much a real boat cost she just ignored her question and told her to look that and join back the group.Sylvia find miss moore behavior rude and was hurt. Moreover, also belong to same race from where the sylvia belongs.Miss Moore want that children should know the importance of education and how it is important for everyone like everyone cannot afford it.These are my points like why i give the title harsg reality because this is the reality of the world everyone cannot afford education, in this person is treated how much they earn and the standard of living. 1