The assignment I feel was most successful was my reflection and analysis of Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman.” I say this because I actually really liked and enjoyed this assignment. This highly relatable assignment was my favorite since it allowed me to fully show my creativity and personal voice. Designing the two-page presentation on Maya Angelou’s “Phenomenal Woman” allowed me to select a poem that really represents who I am. I could have done better on Essay 1, which included investigating a student paper in regard to Gabriel García Márquez’s primary source story and Rader’s secondary piece. Looking back, I notice I failed to follow the outline closely, particularly in the introduction. I failed to clearly identify the title and author of both main and secondary sources, as well as describe what the task required of the student. One thing I learned this semester is the importance of carefully following assignment directions and properly comprehending the contents before writing about them. This taught me to slow down and read more carefully.
Jahniya Nelson
In Langston Hughes’ “Salvation,” the quote says, “I began to be ashamed of myself, holding everything up so long,” which shows Raymond Carver’s idea of using commonplace but precise language. This short quote expresses the tremendous burden and anxiety that the teenager experiences throughout the church meeting. The term “holding everything up” is commonly used, but in this context, it specifies the tension of social expectation as well as the boy’s increasing guilt over not experiencing the experience of God that others claim to have. Hughes’ straightforward delivery helps readers to sense the boy’s nervousness and solitude, making the scene emotionally real. This is consistent with Raymond Carver’s claim that commonplace words can have a huge psychological impact when utilized carefully. The simple language of this one statement allows us to comprehend his emotions precisely. It provides an instance that some of the most genuine and heartbreaking writing needs no detailing; it simply needs to be authentic and straightforward.
Fairy tales are beneficial for children because they promote imagination, teach moral lessons, and help children develop emotional resilience through symbolic storytelling. From List A, I’m interested in the article “The Positive Impacts of Fairy Tales for Children” by Leilani VisikoKnox-Johnson. I find it appealing how she states that children may identify with the characters and experience empowerment when those characters overcome challenges. This article argues that fairy tales allow children to explore and understand complex emotions, such as fear and courage, via symbolic figures and imaginative scenarios. From List B, I chose “Another Look at the Fairy Tales” by Leland B. Jacobs. Jacobs focuses on how fairy tales encourage children’s imaginations and expand their perspectives. His argument that fairy tales encourage kids to see unlimited opportunities and promote the development of creative problem-solving abilities struck a chord with me. These ideas strengthen the importance of fairy tales for young children’s development.
I have mixed feelings about reading literature that contains racial slurs as a 20-year-old Black woman in college, especially when such insults are targeted at me. In my opinion, including racist insults in literary writings is unacceptable, regardless of their historical context. I say this because it is unsettling to see expressions that have historically dehumanized people who are similar to me still expressing such sadness and disappointment.The language used in stories such as Flannery O’Connor’s expresses the general mindset and brutal reality of the era. Removing or restricting those words may make the story more appealing to some people, but it also has an impact on the recognition of the real experiences of those who lived through that time. It’s very critical and important to realize both the historical significance of certain words and how unpleasant they may be.
I would think that my ability to read and analyze poetry has increased after spending the last two weeks reading poetry, which is challenging to grasp. My ability to identify and understand literary techniques like metaphor, symbolism, and rhythm has improved. My understanding of poetry has helped me to better understand Oedipus’s multiple levels of importance. One of my favorite poems from the past two weeks was “The Mother” by Gwendolyn Brooks. It has helped me in analyzing complicated feelings and the significance of a challenging choice like abortion. My review of “The Mother” has also helped me better understand the emotional depth of the characters in Oedipus the King because it has made me aware of the profound effect that guilt can have on a person’s thoughts and actions, even when those actions were uncontrollable or unknown to them.
I recognized my first process was incorrect since I misunderstood the assignment’s main goal.I mistakenly centered on examining the original source (Márquez’s story) rather than evaluating the student’s reaction to the secondary source.By focusing too closely on the original text, I missed the main goal of the assignment, which was to evaluate the secondary source.Furthermore, I misinterpreted the arguement of the Rader article, believing it was about the profound power of beauty when it was truly about identity. This experience displayed the importance of completely grasping the material before completing an assignment.Furthermore, I will pay more attention to the specific directions provided in my assignments to ensure a better grade.Ultimately, this experience has taught me the significance of reading closely.It really made it easier for me to fully understand the expectations of this class and the value of formation .
In an essay on Toni Cade Bambara’s The Lesson, I would look at the narrative strategies and character growth that contribute to the story’s overall impact. I would prefer to specifically investigate the usage of viewpoints, focusing on how Sylvia’s first-person narrative influences our understanding of her character.The first-person viewpoint is significant because it allows us readers right away access to Sylvia’s thoughts, showing her early resistance to Miss Moore’s teaching. Her tone gives an in-depth and versatile view of how she views the events around her, revealing her internal struggles and increasing awareness.I would additionally look into the setting’s importance, particularly how the difference between the community and the journey to the shop serves as a context for Sylvia’s shifting perspective.The combination of youth and spending delivers an understated but powerful indictment of current standards. The title of this essay might be “Understanding Past the Surface: Character and Perspective in Toni Cade Bambara’s The Lesson.”
In Week 1, Activity 10, the prewriting assignment requires the drafting of a thesis-driven essay. This means that the essay must be organized around a central claim that is proven by evidence and analysis.We are instructed to read Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “The Most Handsome Drowned Man” and Dean Rader’s analysis to completely understand the narrative and its themes while acquiring foundational information. I will review many resources and additional guides, which include those addressing thesis statements, MLA citations , effective essay formation, and quotation usage. I will finally be able to create an essay that is correctly cited and organized based on these materials. Afterwards I will review the guidelines for the sample student essay and examine the essay to identify the structure and content specifications. This prewriting project aims to make sure I understand the required information and skills prior to starting the writing process itself. I say this because its a very crucial and essential step in preparing me to write the literary analysis essay successfully.
