I believe that, in most cases, literary texts should retain the original language to preserve the historical context and authenticity of the characters. When a story is set in a particular time and place, the language used by the characters often reflects their beliefs, societal norms, and the struggles of that period. In the case of Flannery O’Connor’s writing, the offensive language might be uncomfortable, but it’s important because it shows the attitudes and realities of the time in the deep South during the 1960s. That said, it’s also crucial to handle these texts with care. Readers should be given context and guidance about why certain words were used, to avoid misunderstanding or misinterpretation. Educators and publishers can offer resources that help explain the social and historical background, so the language isn’t just seen as offensive, but as part of the broader discussion about race, power, and history. The balance is to respect the original work while also being mindful of its impact on modern readers.
Brian
Over the past two weeks, my ability to read poetry has improved. Before, I sometimes felt like I didn’t fully understand the deeper meaning of a poem. Now, I feel more confident in looking at symbols, themes, and emotions to understand what the poet is trying to say. This skill will help me while reading Oedipus the King because, like poetry, the play also uses symbolism and deeper messages that are not always obvious at first. One poem that connects to Oedipus the King is “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy” Evening by Robert Frost. In the poem, the speaker is tempted to stop and stay in the dark, quiet woods but knows he must keep moving forward. This reminds me of Oedipus because he is also faced with a choice he could ignore the truth about his past and stay in the “dark,” but instead, he chooses to keep searching for answers, even though it leads to his downfall. Understanding this idea in the poem helped me see how Oedipus’ decisions shape his fate and made me think more about the themes of the play.
In “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara the story is not just about money problems; it’s also about seeing things in a new way and growing up. Sylvia, who is the main character goes with her teacher who is named Miss Moore and her friends to a fancy toy store. At first Sylvia is upset because she can’t buy anything but as the day goes on she starts to understand more. Then Miss Moore takes the kids to the store to show them that some people are rich and some are poor and that not everyone gets the same chances in life. At first Sylvia didn’t understand. She was very angry and confused because she wanted the toys but she didn’t get why some people have a lot of money while others don’t. So the trip makes her think about things she had never thought about before. This story shows that growing up means learning hard things. But Sylvia doesn’t like it but she starts to see that the world isn’t fair. After the trip she feels like she has to figure out what to do about it. The story teaches that understanding how life works can be hard but it’s important if you want to make a change. In the end of the story Sylvia doesn’t just learn about money. She begins to understand more about how life is different for different people. She’s not just learning about money problems; she’s learning how to think for herself and make her own decisions. A good title for me for an essay about this could be: “Seeing the World Differently: What Sylvia Learns in ‘The Lesson.’”
For Activity 10, the prewriting assignment is about getting ready to write an essay by organizing our thoughts. First, we need to read The Most Handsome Drowned Man by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and then an analysis by Dean Rader, which helps us understand the story better. One theme that stood out to me is identity. We also have some guides that explain how to write a strong thesis, use quotes, and format our essay correctly. The point of this assignment is to help us think about the story and come up with ideas for our essay also understand what’s expected in our writing. So Taking the time to review the guides will make it easier to write a well organized and clear essay.
