Critical Response- "Three Girls"

"Three Girls," a short story by Joyce Carol Oates, is not just a story about two young women enthralled by the prescense of a celebrity in a New York bookstore, but the changing roles of women in today's society. On the surface, a reader can pick up the fantasy-like prose that Oates uses to create the desired mood of the unique night. Oates describes the girls as "drifting through the warehouse of treasures as though an enchanted forrest...enchanted by books," (77). Then the fantasy continues as they see Marylin Monroe in the bookstore.

However, this is where the role of women today comes into play. Marylin is not what the two girls expected. There was "no leading man, no dark prince...This Marylin Monroe required no man," (79). Oates is using Marylin as a symbol of the tamed, beautified woman of the olden days. However, she uses this character ironically to make a statement: women can be intellectual; they can wear men's clothes and go to a bookstore. Women are now independent as defined by not only their thoughts, but their sexuality as well.

In the end of the story, Oates reveals the real reason for the fantasy-like night: "that magical evening...when I kissed you for the first time." Oates builds up the story, breaking down the typical roles of women, and then she adds to the destruction of women mores by saying that the two girls kissed. Oates shows that the girls can be typical members of society, awestruck by a celebrity like everyone else in this world, and still be homosexual. Oates skillfully shows throughout "Three Girls" that there is a new type of woman nowadays.

Shakespeare in an ipad?

http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/store/add.php?iid=48062

Last week Mr. Burke and I were discussing the future of literary works. Would all novels be turned into multimedia on kindles and ipads? How soon? For me, these thoughts are a little frightening. Unlike this cartoon depicts, I think that, like myself, Shakespeare would not be happy at all with the way novels are turning into digital files. I think books should be enjoyed thoughtfully, not read "on the go" as the ipad promotes. I like to sit down and allow myself to soak up the imagery and ideas of the literature. In addition, I'm beginning to get into the habit of underlining and making notes in margins while I read so I can keep track of the important details. That won't be possible anymore if I can't write on my books. My education would be impacted.

But more importantly is how this change would affect the writing itself. Imagery is what makes a book seem realistic, what connects a reader to the text (as I read in our textbook this week). If a novel is put onto a mini-computer so that a person can click and see a video of the imagery instead, it would take away that much more from the writing. My theory is that the writers would become lazier and think "I don't feel like describing that sunset. I'll just go find a picture." In addition, after much contemplation about what literature even is, my definition does not include pictures. I believe a piece of literature should be able to use such precise word choice that that should be enough. What happened to the days when, after a frustrating day of dealing with computers and other technology, the book was always there? The book- complex in ideas yet simple to operate. That is quite satisfactory for me.

Breaking the Cycle- Good or bad?

This past week in class, we analyzed the poem "The Second Coming" by W.B. Yeats. As we discussed the poem, we came to realize a common theme: life is a cycle. In the poem, Yeats is critical of the second coming (the coming of Jesus), saying that it threw the world into anarchy; a world where "the ceremony of innocence is drowned." In this case, Yeats makes it clear that going off of the familiar cycle is bad; however; is this act always bad? My answer to that is no. This weekend on BHS's advanced leadership retreat, we broke from the cycle of our normal weekend routines and broke out of our comfort zones. One the second day we participated in the "cross the line" activity. The walls that usually suppress emotions were broken down, and our trust was built up. In the end, we all agreed it may have been a difficult experience, but a worthwhile one as well. Once we broke for the cycle of routine, our eyes were opened to the truth of the cycle of rumors and teasing, difficulties of life and death. I invite everyone to break the cycle, to open their eyes to something new. Most likely, it will make "things fall apart" in a good way.

Academic Literacy evaluation

READING:

1. Books I read this summer:

-How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster

-The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

-Goldengrove by Francine Prose

-The Pity of it All by Amos Elon

2. All other things I read:

-Articles in Seventeen magazine

-A few chapters of about 4 other books

-Blog (created by myself and 2 others) and websites on Renewal of the Jewish Community in Berlin (for a program)

3. none

4. I like to concentrate when I read, so that usually requires a quiet space. I also like to read large amounts at a time, sometimes even a whole day. I sometimes do spread out my reading though. Before I read, I sometimes go back and read a couple paragraphs so I remember what is happening. I don't really do anything after I read usually (unless there is homework).

WRITING:

I am generally a good writer. I am good at grammar and punctuation. I could work on my vocabulary more. Sometimes it is hard for me to organize my thoughts into an outline. However, once in that format, I stick to the topic and my ideas are organized well.

THINKING:

One of my strengths is my "capacity to work hard and to expect high standards." I see this as a strength because working hard always leads to success. Even if I'm not the smartest person in the class, I can work hard to understand the book or do the assignment just as well. Having high standards for myself is key to doing well in any academic situation. Having too high of standards can hinder success though. I can't let a bad grade get me down and stop me from trying. I should learn from the experience and just work that much harder.

One of my weaknesses is not contributing to class discussions. I tend to be quiet and like to observe rather than participate. I am trying to work on this. Not participating in class discussions is bad because then I don't get to share my ideas with the class. Therefore, the others cannot learn for me, and they cannot disagree and start an intelligent conversation or debate with me. In addition, not contributing more is hindering my education because I am not getting all of my questions answered.

ACADEMIC LITERACY:

Main ideas:

1. Students are more willing to do the work and be diligent, but less willing to communicate and ask questions.

2. Critical thinking abilities need to be taught. They are crucial and should be encouraged.

3. Students should be exposed to many types of rhetorical strategies so they can develop their own.

Respond:

I agree with the ideas in the excerpt. I have experienced this first hand. I am very willing to out in the hard work, yet I am less willing to question and communicate. I see this among many of my peers as well. I have also heard several teachers bring up this dilemma and agree with what is stated in the excerpt.

Summer Reading 2010

This summer I read three books for AP Literature: How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively Entertaining Guide to Reading Between Lines, by Thomas Foster; The Brief Wondrous Life Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz; and Goldengrove, by Francine Prose.

I found How to Read Literature Like a Professor to be a little obvious and repetitive, especially when discussing irony. However, the part that I thought was very helpful was about water and how it is a cleansing rebirth. It is like baptism. This is show to be true in Goldengrove when Nico goes in the water at the end of the novel and then comes out as a different, happier person.

I enjoyed reading Goldengrove. It was a thoughtful novel about growing up and dealing with grief at the same time. That was the common thread between this novel and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Goldengrove was more straightforward. Oscar Wao was more complicated due to the switching of narrators and time periods, the usage of Spanish vocabulary, and the more complex symbolism such as the men with no faces. Oscar Wao has a lot of vulgar language in it, but it is crucial to express the anger the characters feel and the negative tone and mood of the book in general. I would definitely recommend these two novels.