Personal Essay: Opening

Every Canadian needs to be aware of our contributions to our planet. Most contributions further humankind, but leave drastic effects on our earth. The matter at hand is about our environment. We as a society contribute vast damage to our surroundings. With a low population, one would think that we could control ourselves. Evidence of our control proves otherwise, as each generation of Canadians is worse than the previous. Environmental conditions need to be forced more severely onto our shoulders. We as Canadians are rich in luxuries, and because of this we feel the need to do whatever we want, without caring about the consequences of our actions.

Informal Essay: Opening Paragraph

As Canadians, our personal safety should be considered one of the most important issues to our government. We as a society believe that we are being protected. We may be entitled to security of person, but what about knowledge? Canadians should have the right to be aware of the dangerous offenders in our community. Sadly, we are not given the whole truth or even granted our rights, or even access to some of the most crucial information that could protect my family and yours. The right we are being denied is the right to be aware of registered sex offenders in Canada, and even in our community. I believe that the registered sex offenders act should be passed and ratified in the House of Commmons.

Methods of Development in "Television News"

One method of development used in John Haslett Cuff’s essay “Television News” is example. Throughout the essay, Cuff gives many examples of ways in which television is, “[serving] both the corporate and political elites.” In paragraph two of “Television News,” the author makes note of the “planned and staged event” and its contribution to the sameness of all news sources. Cuff immediately relates this example back to the thesis by using parallel ‘manufacturing’ language, and connecting it to politicians. To further develop his thesis, the author cites a television journalist who conforms to his idea, summing it up by stating that news “is bureaucratic.” Supplementing this idea, Cuff explores the manufacturing of news through the example of political news conferences. When the essay flows into the second section, the author begins to focus on examples pertaining specifically to the medium of television, as opposed to media in general. Cuff notes how “numbingly similar” images are every night, and further enforces his thesis by elaborating on the “reduction of information” through the running of the same story on every newscast. The use of example in “Television News” is significant to the development of the thesis as it allows Cuff to not only establish television’s “technical superiority and popular ascendance” but also to fully explain, in a context that all television viewers could relate to, how this medium is wasting its potential, and instead “preshrinking news.” In the context of “Television News”, the use of example is necessary as a reader would not feel the thesis was adequately proven without specific reference to ways in which the news is a “slave of format.”

As well as example, Cuff also makes use of persuasion in “Television News.” The essay is written in a way that the reader slowly conforms to the ideas presented, which is done through many types of claims, as well as logos, ethos, and pathos. In the first paragraph, Cuff plays to ethos by referring to television as a “slave.” This terminology also appears as a claim of values, bringing about humanity’s adverse opinions on slavery. Logos appears in tandem with the example method of development, as Cuff presents numerous facts and evidence relating to television’s “preshrinking of news.” He notes the sameness of television, the “newshound” reporters, the numbingly similar images, as well as specific news examples in the forms of The New Yorker and W5. This immediately establishes a credibility and knowledge of the topic, which makes the reader trust in the authors authority on the matter. Cuff makes claims of policy, but presents them in a cynical context, which gives the reader a negative view of the policy of news. By stating the preparedness of most conferences, the reader is forced to doubt the truth behind their information, and makes the ache for television news “to escape the tyranny of its hidebound formulas.” Finally, Cuff adds to his persuasion by employing pathos. By relating his topic and thesis back to the lives of humans, the reader instantly wishes for change. Posing the idea that news “rule[s] and homogenize[s] our lives” appeals to the human side of the thesis, and allows the reader to combine the emotional argument with the logical one to fully persuade them to conforming to Cuff’s own ideas. It is evident that persuasion is highly effective in proving his thesis, as Cuff feels so confident that he has done so, he spends the entire last paragraph posing rhetorical questions whose answers require either accepting or rejecting the thesis. Having been unsure if his essay was persuasive enough to convince an audience his ideas are true, one would highly doubt he would include such a personal ending.

Television News

The first method of development I came across was Classification. The author separated ideas into different groups, which all related back and enforced his thesis. The use of this method was excellent as it separated ideas such as news conference and competition in paragraphs 3 to 5 from “pictures” in 6-8. The news conference and competition further develops his thesis by proving that each holds a specific characteristic. For News Conference it depicts that it’s the biggest staple, because there are prepared statements and arguments. “And whether it is called by a prime minister or president, an eco-activist or native dissident, it almost always consists of a prepared statement, followed by prepared answers to prepared questions”. This directly relates back to his thesis, by proving that television has technological superiority. The second part is Competition. This section proves that all that are competing, including newspapers, radio, and television. “All of the players are competing, yet are largely content to have the same story, the same information and, in the case of TV, the same pictures.” This relates back and furthers proves his thesis that the technological superiority and popular ascendance over print is the reduction of information. When looking at “pictures”, it proves that they are similar. “The pictures are numbingly similar night after night: a head of state getting in and out of a car, surrounded by reporters, besieged on the steps of some official building or posed at a lectern in front of an obedient, orderly group of newshounds.” This further develops Cuff’s thesis by again, proving that there is preshrinking of news to serve both the corporate and political elites.
The second method of development is Argument. Throughout the essay there is a vast amount of details that convinces the reader. These details can all be directly related back to what was previously stated for classification. Throughout: News Conference, Competition and “pictures” each brings its own form of persuasion. For News Conference there was the phrase “And whether it is called by a prime minister or president, an eco-activist or native dissident, it almost always consists of a prepared statement, followed by prepared answers to prepared questions”. For Competition, “All of the players are competing, yet are largely content to have the same story, the same information and, in the case of TV, the same pictures.” Lastly for “pictures” there was “The pictures are numbingly similar night after night: a head of state getting in and out of a car, surrounded by reporters, besieged on the steps of some official building or posed at a lectern in front of an obedient, orderly group of newshounds.” All of these quotes make direct development of Cuff’s Thesis. They provide supporting details, and further advance the essay.

Observations from on High

Mike LeSouder and Rob Lamond? Where are you? Where are your posts? Heellllooo? The remaining three are doing a good job. You should be commenting on each other's posts with more vigour. Keep up with all the recent topics. No one's posted about Freud yet. Continue to develop your writing voices.

Three Poems

Personally, I believe that the three poems are all written by different authors. In every facet, including form, diction, mood, tone, point of view and choice of figurative devices, all of the poems are distinctly unique.

In terms of scansion, the first poem is primarily iambic pentameter, with the occasional use of iambic tetrameter. However, the second poem has no clear meter. All of the lines are seemingly random in syllable count, and have a mix of accented and unaccented syllables. Each stanza in the last poem consists of five, seven syllable lines, finishing with a four syllable line. Also, poem number two has no rhyme scheme, while poem one is ABABCDDCB (for each stanza) and poem three is ABACBD, which the last word of each stanza rhyming. No stanzas between poems are similar in line count either. By analyzing the form of each of the poems, they are all distinct. There is nothing that makes any poem similar to another, which immediately leaves me to believe they are written by different authors.

The first poem is very objective. There is no clear speaker, and not once does it use the word ‘I.’ However, the other two poems do make use of the word ‘I,’ and are clearly written in first person. An observer is speaking from their account, which leads to a subjective perspective. These differences in point of view further support my hypothesis of three authors.

Each poem makes different use of diction, mood, and tone. The first poem has a very negative feel. It begins by using beautiful imagery and metaphor (its two prime figurative devices) to establish a wondrous fantasy environment, but then destroys this view with a description of destruction. The words chosen are very violent and destructive, which aids in creating the pessimistic vibe. Poem two also has a negative tone, however, it is much more emotional. It does not rely on using bluntly negative language. Instead, repetition is used to enforce the mood of the piece. The final poem, though they are all about nature, is the only one to use apostrophe. It also includes much more spiritual references, unlike the pervious poems. This creates a more positive tone, which again is different from the other poems.

Ultimately, the poems contain very little similarities other than the topic of nature. They all make use of different figurative devices, have varying tones/moods, drastically divergent in diction and have totally unlike forms. All of these factors lead me to believe that each poem has a different author.

Examples of Good and Bad writting

Bad Writing

The first two opening statements are truisms. Obviously, there are individuals in our society with thoughts and feelings. Just by reading the first few lines, any educated reader can determine that this paragraph does not begin with a strong message, or any message at all. This passage violates rules, two, five, six and seven, to the up most extreme. First, the passage could use some serious re-wording throughout the entire paragraph. The use rhetorical questions are ineffective and unnecessary. The passage is so confusing to read, i could hardly follow the thought process at all. It seemed as though there were just random sentence pieced together with no real though for the readers. Also, it appears the writer enjoyed using his thesaurus throughout the passage...

This passage is basically all hype. It takes no logical direction and uses large words to seem intelligent. It's one large run-on-sentence with no real subject matter.

Once again, the use of rhetorical questions have no effect on the reader what-so-ever. Personally, i am not a science orientated person at all. Thus his question about science experiments creating emotions in people goes right over my head, and i'm sure i am not alone. In the beginning the writer mentions a science experiment, near the end, he relates god filling the gap for a lost parent. Also, there is no source for any of his facts about Freud. Both Topics are completely separate and the middle of the passage does not effectively connect the two ideas together.


Good Writing

This passage is a considered good writing because it explains a topic with effect use of language and doesn't attempt to seem overly intelligent. Its very straight forward, sweet and simple. The topic sentence, the middle and the conclusion all relate to one and other and make perfect sense. The author also avoids using long sentences to explain himself.

Though the passage is short and sweet, it gives you some good insight and some information that you may not have known. The writer also avoids using complex words in order to appear intelligent. I've noticed the that there is a common theme between all the examples of good writing, they all have the exact same characteristics, they all use affective word choices. Also, each sentence compliments one and another.

"The Death of the Moth" by Virginia Woolf - Description

“The Death of the Moth” by Virginia Woolf is a strong example of good writing. Woolf fully avoids all of the conventions of bad writing, which leads to a pleasant and effective read. Stylistically, Woolf employs flawless grammar and spelling, and selects words of great artfulness and sophistication. Furthermore, “The Death of the Moth” has an extremely clear focus. It is fixed on describing the last moments of life experienced by a moth, and refrains from including unnecessary commentary. The length of the piece is appropriate for the subject matter, and the writing in no way is over hyped, too clever, or thinks too highly of itself. Consequently, “The Death of the Moth” is an exemplar of good writing.

As well as being a firm model of good writing, “The Death of the Moth” by Virginia Woolf is also an exceptional example of the description method of development. The essay does not tell a story about a moth. Instead, it gives an impression as to what the act of a moth dying is like. Woolf utilizes extremely specific words and phrases. Instead of using vague description, Woolf’s is vivid. For example, Woolf beautifully describes the creature’s struggle when, “[the moth] was trying to resume his dancing, but seemed either so stiff or awkward that he could only flutter to the bottom of the windowpane.” Many inexperienced writers would often simply say, ‘the moth could not fly very he well so it fell to the bottom of the window,’ whereas Woolf selects radiant and evocative adjectives and verbs to explore the death of the moth. Woolf also makes use of metaphor, simile and figurative language to fully describe the moth’s death. The use of these devices further enhances the magnitude of the moth’s demise, and the narrator realizes the profound effect of death when he states he, “could only watch the extraordinary efforts made by those ting legs against an oncoming doom which could, had it chosen, have submerged an entire city, not merely a city, but masses of human beings.” As a result of the artful adjectives, nouns, verbs, metaphors and similes, the death of a seemingly insignificant creature is heightened, and made into a far more emotional and jarring affair.

Ultimately, “The Death of a Moth” by Virginia Woolf is tremendously stirring and clear, which makes it a prime example of the method of development of description.

Examples of good and bad writing

Examples of bad writing:

The first example of bad writing starts with truism it states that our society is made up of individuals, when we already know that if our society was not made up of individuals then it wouldn’t be a society. It also includes that the individual has individual thoughts and actions, and we also know if this wasn’t present they wouldn’t be individuals. As well as using truism the author overloads the reader with questions. This can be overwhelming for a reader, especially when it seems as though the author doesn’t seem to have his/her own answers to these questions. A solution to this may be to “go on a diet” with the question asking. This paragraph ends on a negative note. All together this paragraph presents you with definitions you already know, an overwhelming amount of questions to frustrate yourself with, and those who we consider intelligent that research nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values have all wasted their time.

The second example of bad writing is too clever it is using unnecessary words to make it sound more intelligent when really all they are doing in confusing the reader. It is a four line sentence that most likely could have been written in two. They have put far too much detail into trying to make a single point. They could fix this by taking out the unnecessary information, or splitting the information in to multiple sentences.

The third example of bad writing gives you a specific fact about Freud but does not give you a source to reference from. This leaves the reader with uncertainty of the truth. The paragraph also starts with a quotation, leaving out an introduction.

All the examples of bad writing leave out sources


Examples of good writing:

The first example of good writing is very clear, it uses intelligent phrases but is precise making it enjoyable for the reader. It includes factual content that is believable, and it includes a source if any doubt was present. It educates the reader by condensing the information, making it easy to understand, this giving the reader satisfaction.

The second example of good writing incorporates the quotations into the sentences with references. It asks one question and later explains it therefore the reader is not overwhelmed, frustrated, or confused.

The third example of good writing is written with confidence. It includes questions that are later explained clearly and precisely. It informs the reader of the knowledge needed to answer the questions. It ends in a question but since the reader has been given information, it allows them the ability to form their own answer. Overall the paragraph includes factual content that is explained thoroughly, but not to the point where the reader becomes uninterested.

All the examples of good writing include sources

Wicked Words - Definition

Hugh Rawson's "Wicked Words" is an example of well written definition essay. He presents connotative and denotative definitions of the word “dog”. He gives us the direct definition of “dog”first to inform us of the original meaning, “the first of the animals to be domesticated”, later we are able to compare explicit meanings with the original. Some examples of explicit definitions of “dog” given are: An ugly person, often a women; a worthless person, as in “Am I a dog that though comest to me with staves?” Rawson writes that only rarely is “dog” used affectionately. It more than often is used to describe a chore, and negative action done by a person. In the English language we have many words that have several meanings. It seems as though over time explicit meanings of words are becoming more common. For example “gay” was used to express the feeling of happiness, this was before it acquired its present sexual orientation. This secondary meaning has caused controversy. Some may find this word offensive if used in the explicit tense. It is ironic how a word such as “gay” which once had the single definition of happiness can now cause offensive feelings because of its development of denotative definition.

Good and Bad Writing

All of the examples of bad writing break one or more of the conventions of the “Seven Types of Bad Writing.” The first example of bad writing includes many of the described seven types. The biggest problem with the first example of bad writing is that it has no direction. After reading and re-reading, I am still questioning the intent of the piece. With good pieces of writing, the reader should be able to instantly pick out the thesis, or at least the core idea. However, this example has no clear focus. It also attempts to use words and ideas that are unnecessarily grandiose, which aid in creating the confusing read. In order to improve this writing, I would not only fix the grammatical errors, but also remove the excessive amount of questions, and reduce the length by about one half. Example number two uses far too many big words, and is just one long, run on sentence. On top of this, it an also a large frankenquote. The other main issues are that it thinks too highly of itself, trying to make a simple issue far more important, and ignores the needs of the reader - simplicity. The third example of bad writing clearly does not prove its thesis. Like the first example, it to has no direction, and thinks too much of itself. Also, in trying to prove a scientific argument, an author should include relevant facts and citations. This piece does not, which leads me to question if the Freud reference is fact or fiction.

The examples of good writing, however, completely avoid the types of bad writing. “The Spawning of the Capelin” has a very clear focus. The first sentence makes it clear what the rest of the paragraph will be about. It also makes use of sophisticated language, without speaking too highly of itself. Finally, I believe it is successful because it is concise and to the point. There is no unnecessary information included, which makes for a simplistic and satisfying read. The second example, “The Genes for Color Vision” is primarily successful due to its succinct style, and reference to a credible source. It has a clear direction, and uses scientific terminology, which would appeal to a Scientific American reader. “Is the Brain’s Mind a Computer Program?” discusses a very complex and sophisticated topic, however, it does not use language that is above its context, no does it forcefully try to “sound big, grown-up and clever.” Also, like all the other examples of good writing, it too has a very clear direction and fully executes its intent.

The concept of audience is clearly the most decisive factor for the assessment of good and bad writing, yet it is also the most difficult. Ultimately, it is the reader, or audience, which decides of something is written well or poorly. However, it is also the most difficult factor to appeal to, as all readers have different abilities, background knowledge and tastes. It is without question that a one may read an article and think it is brilliant, while another may feel it is trash. To combat this, an author must implement all of their tools as a writer to craft the most widely appealing work in order for it to be universally regarded as “good writing.”

Archetypal and Post Modern Criticism

In my opinion, an archetype is not a stereotype, as the archetype acts as a model in which a story is formed from. It is by no means the story itself. To me, the word stereotype implies a general, fixed and oversimplified idea of something. Archetypes provide a solid foundation in which to paint various stories. Though many archetypes are reoccurring in literature, film, art and mythology, such as the archetypes of good, evil, heroes, villains and tricksters, they differ greatly from tale to tale. For example, the iconic hero, Superman, is the epitome of bravery - tall, handsome, muscular and endlessly combats evil. However, not all archetypal heroes follow this pattern. Contrary to the typical, Superman-esque protagonist are heroes like Frodo from The Lord of the Rings. Though still a hero, he is not presented in the typical buff, crime fighting way. He is truly an unconventional hero, but one nonetheless. J.R.R. Tolken has used the archetypal quest eloquently and perfectly, however, the story is intensely unique, proving that archetypes are not stereotypes.

Based on the above, I would argue that there are no universal “truths” per-say to archetypes. As we read and write, we are not rediscovering ways to interpret the “truth” of archetypes, but to mold and alter the conventions of an archetype. As previously stated, I believe it is best to use archetypes as models and guides. There is no one way to write a story, and no one way to craft characters, as demonstrated by the post-modernism movement. Writing a quest does not mean that it must include all twelve steps of the archetypal quest to be real, or truthful. It simply means that certain elements will occur to not only engross the reader, but to successfully portray the struggles associated with a hero’s journey.

In the context of David Arnason’s short story “A Girl’s Story,” Arnason himself is portraying the trickster archetype. Though his antics and seemingly random ideas do not change the overall plot of the story, or even influence it much (as the majority of the story is simply the unorthodox hijinks of this trickster) it does “disrupt the status quo.” By doing this, Arnason is conforming to the norm of the trickster archetype. Arnason makes use of more trickster qualities, such as ridicule, as demonstrated when he insults other forms of literary criticism, most evidently feminism when he directly states, “I’m going to have trouble with the feminists . . . The feminists are going to say that I’m perpetuating stereotypes, that by giving the impression the girl is full of hidden passion I’m encouraging rapists.” However, the interesting quality of “A Girl’s Story” is that it is fully contrasting the traditional presentation of the trickster. Unorthodoxly, Arnason, the author himself, is the trickster, as opposed to character within the story playing this role. By doing this, Arnason is taking steps to morph the modes of archetypes, and also proving that archetypal characters do not have to conform to a stereotype.

Ultimately, an archetype is not a stereotype until the author makes it so. An author may chose to conform to the norms of certain archetypes, but will often add tweaks and quirks that make the characters interesting, engaging, and three-dimensional. It is a conscious decision to portray a character as stereotypical. When this occurs, it is evident that an author has failed to use archetypes as models, and created a cliched and formulaic story.

The Shining Houses

The difference between losing a home, and losing your self-worth is apparent. The main issue when becoming a victim of a crime or an indiscretion is being robbed of something of importance. I feel as though material possessions and your voice are incomparable. Houses, by most means - are replaceable, though self esteem and confidence take years to establish and maintain.

My main issue with Mary is that fact that she was aware of Mrs.Fullertons situation, yet did not voice it to the other neighbours. I believe if Mary was any sort of a good person, she would have stood up for her beliefs and protected Mrs.Fullerton. Though i am aware how difficult it may be to stand up for yourself - let alone another human being - i am certain that if she truly cared for Mrs. Fullerton, she would have helped by any means necessary. That is why i have no real sympathy for Mary, shes young and capable - yet she cant seem to stand up for an elderly, helpless woman. Mary should be ashamed of herself for allowing this to happen, yet for some reason, i feel she is somewhat of a victim - but by her own means. She allowed herself to be put in that position yet, feels sorry for herself - i find that pathetic.

Mrs.Fullerton is the true victim, because she was basically forced to cooperate with her neighbors, and had no way to protect herself or her home. She was taken advantage of and basically at a loss for her own dignity. She too was not the only one to lose her voice.

The Shining houses -Marxist Literary Criticism

The Shining Houses by Alice Munro portrays an interesting concept of the values of Marxism. At first glance it appears that Mrs. Fullerton is a greater victim than Mary, but this is not completely accurate. The roles in this story are reversed roles of the Marxist’s concept of the class struggle between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. Although the owners of the shining houses initially appear to be the bourgeoisie, through further analysis, it becomes clear that they are the oppressed proletariat class. The White Houses were not built for high-class individuals but lower income class families with higher expectations: “People who would live in them came out and tramped around in the mud on Sundays. They were for people like Mary and her husband and their child, with not much money but expectations of more”(29). It is also apparent that Mrs. Fullerton is not in financial trouble. She shows this from her repeal at the thought of babysitting for the owners of the White Houses: “this baby-sitting. All the time one or the other is asking me about baby-sitting. I tell them I got my own house to sit in and I raised my share of children”(28). She has also effectively lived on her own for 12 years. There is also a correlation between the removal of Mrs. Fullerton's property and the value increase of her neighborhood. This creates an interesting point as there would be a redistribution of wealth that is a common factor in communist revolutions. By interpreting the text this way, one could say Mrs. Fullerton’s house is oppressing the needed wealth of her neighbors.

Mary also suffers from an inability to effectively display her point of view to her neighbors, as displayed in this quotation, “Mary knew what they were talking about. Her neighbors' conversation, otherwise not troubling, might at any moment snag itself on this subject... causing her to look despairingly out of windows, or down into her lap, trying to find some... word to bring it to a stop; she did not succeed”(31). This further supports the idea that Mary is the greater victim in this story as she lacks the ability to express her feelings on the same level as her neighbors. Displayed in the starting of the story, Mary also has a personal relationship with Mrs. Fullerton, and along with this she is subjected to the badgering of Mrs. Fullerton by fellow neighbors about the poor state of her house.


“ ‘I thought I might offer my black cherries for sale next summer,’ Mrs. Fullerton said. ‘Come and pick your own and they're fifty cents a box’...‘That's too much,’ Mary said, smiling. ‘They're cheaper than that at the supermarket’ ”(28). This quote displays a final point about why Mary is more of a victim than Mrs. Fullerton. Mrs. Fullerton lacks knowledge of the changing society she lives in and this essentially protects her from knowing what’s going on around her. We the reader, do not even know if Mrs. Fullerton even knows that her neighbors are displeased with the state of her house. Overall, it's quite clear that Mary shows more characteristics of a victim than Mrs. Fullerton.

Reader Response Theory - Two Words by Isabel Allende

The two words discussed in Isabel Allende’s short story Two Words, but never revealed to the reader are so personalized that no other individual will be able to comprehend them. The two words play a large role in the story, and also create another underlying theme from the story. Through the entire story, the reader is expecting the revealing of the two mystery words that are plaguing one of the most feared men around. I’ve decided that the purpose of not revealing the two words could be to show the reader that they cannot always get what they want. The human race has always strived to know the unknown. This has led us to become accustomed to having every detail disclosed in a story.

Why does the reader want to know what the two words are? We are told throughout the story that no other woman/man would be able to use the same word. “She gave the gift of a secret word to drive away melancholy. It was not the same word for everyone, naturally, because that would have been collective deceit. Each person received his or her own word, with the assurance that no one else would use it that way in this universe or the beyond” (52). Also supporting the theory is how she discarded the dictionary after she read it, as “it was not her intention to defraud her customers with packaged words” (53). So with this said , why is the reader still striving to know what these two words are?

Overall, I believe that we shouldn’t be trying to decipher what the two words are, but why the author decided it was not required of her to inform us of these words. I personally do not want to know the words that Belisa Crepusculario told the Colonel as they would have absolutely no meaning to me.

Touching Bottom by Kari Strutt - Feminist Literary Criticism

Adrienne Rich’s concept of "seeing with fresh eyes" can easily be seen through the narrators depiction in Kari Strutt’s short story, Touching Bottom. The first half of the text is male-dominated, as the reader knows nothing of the Mother and her influences on the narrator, but is well informed about her relationship with her father. Her father is a reluctant individual as he continues to pursue swimming lessons for his daughter although she had given up swimming as displayed in this quotation “That fall my Dad signed me up for Red Cross swimming lessons. In a pool. ‘You can start again,’ Dad said. ‘I'm sure there are no leeches at the YMCA, but I'll come and watch, just to be sure”(125). Her father also tries to prevent her by not giving his consent, and informing her that she would be sorry for what she had done “My Dad told me not to go, not to marry him. He said I would be sorry” (125). This demonstrates the theory of feminism literary criticism as a father is correct in assumes that their relationship won’t last. Until this part of the story the reader is immersed in what would come before Adrienne Rich’s concept of "seeing with fresh eyes".

In the second half of the story the narrator begins to pull away from her male-dominated world. She disobey’s her father’s wishes, and married her Californian love. When the family is at the beach the reader is exposed to Adrienne Rich’s concept as the narrator takes a different tone towards her husband. When it appears that there will be no male interference to stop her and Ian from drowning, the reader can clearly see that the narrator can indeed see with fresh eyes. Her reformed thoughts towards her husband can be seen as she is struggling from drowning: “I was swimming and wondering if, in California, it was okay for a married man to lie on the beach watching girls while his second wife entertained his son” (127). “ ‘Can you try again, Ian? Just swim for a minute.’ ‘No, I'm too tired.’ ‘Just try, for me.’I didn't wait for him to answer, I just let him go. I knew instantly that it was a mistake... I watched the distance between us grow until he screamed. ‘Mom, help’ ”(128). This quotation is interesting as the narrator wasn’t really Ian’s Mother, but as soon a she is call “Mom” it is as if the narrator has a boost of energy, and it is her duty as a self sufficient being to save her child. After all this, we learn that the narrator is no longer oppressed by the male figure, and that she has divorced her husband and living on her own. Adrienne Rich’s concept of "seeing with fresh eyes" is perfectly represented in Strutt’s short story as it displays the two extremes associated with this concept.

"Two Words" by Isabel Allende

"Two Words" by Isabel Allende

In the beginning I automatically felt a connection to title of the story and name the main female character's name that she was given at baptismal. Belisa Crepusculario, the main character was famous for her first and last name, which people often made a point to call her by. The two words automatically stood out to me for some unknown reason. I believe the two words that she shared with The Colonel were perhaps the translation in what her name meant, "beauty" and "twilight”. It stated later in the story that these words meant just for him, so this made me assume that maybe, not very many other people knew the actual translation to her name.

As I analyzed the story, I begin to pounder if maybe the words she whispered to him "love you" but nothing seems quite right. I think the main goal the author tried to accomplish with the title of the story was to make us wonder what the actual words were. The story did state that that the words were mean just for him, perhaps the author intended it to stay what way. The author’s goal with the main character Belisa Crepusculario was to have her remain a mystery. This finally drew me to connection that the title, the two words and Belisa are all connected in the same way. They are never to really be known or discovered. Much like woman, they are not meant to be figured out, just accepted for what they are – a complete enigma.

Formalism (new criticism) – “Araby”

I believe that the story “Araby” is solely based on the signification of a young boy’s painful translation into adulthood. I believe this because; often a passage into adulthood usually signifies an important (sometimes traumatic) event or circumstance in a young person’s life. In this case, the young boy makes the transition into adulthood by experiencing heart break, something many, (if not all of us) will experience in our life time. Although, the major reason why this is such a significant moment in this boy’s life is because forces him to detach himself from the crazed fantasy world he adapted too, and deemed reality.

This boy had an unusual obsession with a girl that seemed a tad unhealthy. His emotions controlled his every action, which is a very dangerous and destructive path to follow. The heartbreak that the boy experienced allowed him to see the world in clear focus for the first time, in the eyes of a mature young man. Sometimes life is not everything you expected, and sometimes the love of your life does slip though your fingers, and I believe the boy finally saw that for the first time in his young life. I believe it was a very shocking and life altering pain that snapped him back into reality, and allowed him to finally deal with his emotions and feeling for this young girl in more healthy way.

touching bottom by kari strutt - feminist literary critism

The narrator in touching bottom strongly experiences feminist awakening. She experiences this from a very young age, always trying to prove herself to a male figure, even if it may be her father. The author displays many examples of feminism and stereotypes throughout the short story. She makes it to be that a male figure had authority in this world and the women must follow his lead.

The narrator walks into a marriage where she feels lonely and afraid. Why would she want to take part in a marriage that would leave her feeling this way? To me this displays that a women feels the need to be married by a certain age. Has the society put pressure on creating a family? and is there a certain age where this has to happen?

It seems that the narrator has a stronger relationship with her step son then her husband, I believe this could be because she does not feel the pressure to fill the needs to be his mother or wife, he already has a mother who has made it clear that she can not be replaced, and he is simply a young boy.

A great example from this short story is when the son and narrator are drowning. The husband is too occupied to notice that his "loved" ones are desperately struggling. He instead his observing a stereotypical blonde beach volleyball player. Men are grouped in many different stereotypical groups some as protectors and others as pigs. The narrator had doubts about her marriage in the first place, why did she have to experience this before she knew she was better off without him, and she didn't need a man's protection to save her life.

The Shining houses by Alice Munro - Marxist Literary Criticism

In the short story The shining houses I believe Mary is the greater victim. At first I thought it was Mrs.Fullerton because she was the elderly women, with the run down house, that was having trouble selling eggs therefore had a low income. Whereas Mary lived in the new well kept houses with the people who wanted Mrs. Fullerton's house to be demolished.

Throughout the story you get to know a bit of Mrs. Fullerton's past. We experience her husband leaving her abruptly. To me she seems to be a very strong optimistic women. After her husband leaving she didn't think of the worst thing possible, she had refreshing thoughts such as change being good for her egg sales, or his possibly memory loss and he would wind up coming home again some day. She wasn't dependent on anyone, it seemed as long has she had a familiar place to live she was fine. It also shows her independence through her egg selling company, her fight against the supermarkets.

Mrs. Fullerton shared her story with Mary. With Mrs Fullerton living in the new well kept houses, she had many friends which did too. These were the people who wanted to have Mrs. Fullerton's house demolished. Mary did not agree with this although she refused to sign the petition, she was unable to express herself to her family and friends. Mary being the only one who knew Mrs. Fullerton's story was the only one who could potentially change the mind of those who were against Mrs. Fullerton. She gave up, she had the perfect chance to stand up for the old house but was unable to and walked away, escaping from the problem.

Touching Bottom by Kari Strutt - Feminist Literary Criticism

The narrator in Kari Strutt’s short story, Touching Bottom, experiences a strong feminine awakening. Through her back story, it becomes clear that the majority of the narrator’s actions are to please men. She takes up swimming, and remains committed to it, to make her father happy. Later on in life, she marries into a relationship she knows she will be unhappy with. However, it is this moment that we first get some idea of the “seeing with fresh eyes” as described by Adrienne Rich. For the first time in the story, the narrator is defying her father. Even though he too warns her of the doubts of her marriage, she decides to follow suit, partially to spite her father.

Adhering to dominant male ideas of her dad, the marriage is rocky. Even at the beginning, the narrator states, “the day I got married I felt lonely and afraid.” She hides in unhappiness, repressed by her husband. Fearful of the male dominated world, she refuses to express her emotions, and instead puts up with her miserable relationship. Later on in the story, however, the narrator is given hope, and realizes that as a female, she can be just as much of a hero as a man. While saving her step-son from drowning in the sea, her husband ironically flirts with young, attractive, bikini clad women on the shore. As horrible as the event may seem, it is this act that allows the narrator to acknowledge her power as a woman. This feminist awakening occurs through her understanding of not needing a man, and that she could do things any man could, if not better. Confident, she leaves her husband.

Touching Bottom is filled with feminist qualities. The female in the story is presented as meek, repressed, and taken advantage of, while her husband comes across as objectifying and chauvinistic. Overall, the man is painted as a villain, and the woman a hero. It is this blatant gender comparison that gives Touching Bottom its feminist power. Classic stereotypes, such as the negligent father and the caring, savior mother are used to further reiterate this idea, and ultimately, re-enforce the narrator’s feminist awakening.

The Two Words by Isabel Allende - readers response

In my opinion the two words Belisa Crepusculario gives to the colonel are her names she was given when she was baptized. Throughout the short story her name has great significance to all that know her, she is constantly being referred to with her first and last name.

In my opinion her name increases it's significance when she is approached by a man who she describes as the loneliest man in the world, the colonel. She the seller of words, gives him two words. She informs him that these are for him and him alone. To me this signifies that she is giving herself to him and him alone. He informs her that he wants to be president, and she wrote him a speech that not only captured a nations heart but the colonels.

While he is away from her sharing his speech across the nation, he is obsessively thinking of these two words, he murmurs them in his sleep, carries them on horseback, repeats them before his speech, and thinks of them in his leisure time. To me this is the act of infatuation, he is not repeating the words he is constantly thinking of Belisa Crepuscarlio's feral scent, her fiercy heat, the whisper of her hair and her sweet mint breath in his ear. The thought of him being with her is cemented in his mind.

It was clear to the colonel's opponents that he was in a fog and they must do something to erase these two words. El Mulato set out to find her. Once they brought Belisa Crepuscarlio to the colonel she could see his eyes soften, he was no longer the loneliest man in the world, she had given herself to him to cure his loneliness.

The Shining Houses by Alice Munro - Marxist Literary Criticism

In The Shining Houses by Alice Munro, the greater victim between Mrs. Fullerton and Mary is Mrs. Fullerton. In Marx’s social hierarchy, Mrs. Fullerton represents the poor, hard working, lower class proletariat, while Mary is a member of the rich bourgeoisie. Granted, Mary may not be truly rich per-se, more-so a middle class suburban, in the context of The Shining Houses she most definitely is a portrayal of the powerful bourgeoisie.

Mrs. Fullerton is constantly resisting the economically well off upper class. Her livelihood, made through selling eggs, is being threatened by the development of low-cost, high-volume consumer centric centers such as the grocery store. Her very own home is also in danger, which becomes the central plot-line of the story, regardless of the fact that “the house and its surroundings were so self-sufficient,” implying it was naturally a part of the land. The suburban families, in their perfect, colourful, shining, ‘tiny-box’ houses that sardonically seem “to shrink at night into the raw black mountainside” are concerned solely with money, and maintaining their high social status. Mrs. Fullerton is the opposite, and resists these common bourgeoisie values. Still, Mrs. Fullerton is ostracized, and victimized when her neighbours decide to petition to have her house bulldozed, claiming its poor conditions defaces the beauty of the street, and ultimately, “is bringing down the resale value of every house on the street.” Ironically, the group tries to rationalize their actions by claiming “it’s the law” and that they “have to think about the community” when in actuality they are doing the exact opposite - thinking purely about themselves, and their ideology. They also try to mask their villainous ways by noting that she “has money in the bank” and that she will be paid “more than [the house] is worth.” Munro, however, contradicts this ideal, with an earlier line by Mrs. Fullerton, who claims “husbands may come and go, but a place you’ve lived for fifty years is something else” further emphasizing Fullerton’s victimization.

Mary on the other hand, is unable to resist the popular bourgeoisie ideologies. Though she refuses to sign the petition, the effect of high-class ideology is evident, albeit subconsciously, when Mary replies to Mrs. Fullerton’s egg price by saying, “That’s too much ... They’re cheaper than that at the supermarket.” Mary is a symbol of futile hope, but is not a vicitm. She shows the repression of capitalism, yet ultimately, caves into her common way of life. It is Mrs. Fullerton whose life would be destroyed by her economic and social standings, and is attacked by the bourgeoisie.

Munro cynically presents the idea of keeping “a disaffected heart.” Though Mary and the others are able to do this, the reader is not, and ultimately, questions their own ideologies and the victimization of Mrs. Fullerton.

Two Words by Isabel Allende - Reader Response Theory

In my opinion, the two words that Belisa whispers to the Colonel in Isabel Allende’s short story, Two Words, are irrelevant to the overall story, as it is Belisa’s charm and power over the Colonel that gives the words meaning. In the social hierarchy, the Colonel is clearly far above Belisa. He is a powerful and revered mercenary, planning on running for a position within the government. Belisa on the other hand, is a poor, likely poverty-stricken lower class vendor. "Belisa Crepusculario had been born into a family so poor they did not even have names to give their children." Such immense poverty leads one to question the validity of Belisa’s name - whether it is her real name, stage name, or simply a fabrication that she changes from story to story. The reiteration of Belisa’s low class further establishes her as a character that is below the Colonel, and not even a part of his world. However, it is this dynamic that ironically gives Belisa power over the Colonel. He longs for her, seeks her out, and uses violent methods to gain her services. After finding her at the market, the Colonel “bound her hand and foot, and threw her like a sea bag across the rump of El Mulato's mount,” proving he will do anything and everything for Belisa. This strong need for the woman shows a desperation in the Colonel, which weakens his character, and puts him in a position to be used by Belisa. Belisa, having been defined as a highly intellectual character (through her occupation alone) obviously takes advantage of this situation.

I feel as though Belisa’s illusion and prowess over the Colonel lead him to revere her as an almost Goddess-like being. For once, the Colonel is faced with an enigma he cannot solve, and Belisa’s decision to “give [him] two secret words,” and tell him to “use them as much as you please,” adds another layer to the puzzle. It is this sheer confusion that plummets the Colonel into his Hamlet-eque pit of despair.

To me, I think it is never intended for the reader to know what the two words are. Speculation is bound to happen, however, there is no solid evidence in the text to support any two words over others. I believe that Allende has consciously made the decision to not tell the reader the two words to emphasize the character of Belisa Crepusculario. By doing this, the reader can identify with the Colonel’s mystification, and ultimately, respect Belisa as a passionate, alluring, strategic and powerful woman.

Araby by James Joyce - Formalist Criticism

The boy in Araby is clearly an emotional character. His epiphany only comes as a result of detaching himself from his idilic dreamworld. Throughout Araby, the boy is focused solely on the woman. All of his thoughts and actions indicate a pure infatuation. The boy would “lay on the floor in the front parlour watching her door” and “[keep] he brown figure always in [his] eye,” yet when she emerged from the door, his “heart leaped.” A clear nervousness is established through all of his actions within the story, providing a link between love and courage. His pure devotion to her is evident when he exclaims, “Her image accompanied me even in places the most hostile to romance.” As his love for the woman grows, his relationship with his family, faith and city are dissipating, as he falls further into his disillusion.

Believing that it would impress her, the boy decides to bring the girl back a gift from the Araby in order to impress her, and hopefully win her heart. By the time he arrives at the bazaar, the streets are empty and many of the stalls are closed. Having expected a lavish and wondrous bazaar, the boy is extremely disappointed. His epiphany is now realized as a saleswoman tries half-heartedly to get him to buy something. Registering her lack of effort, the emptiness of the bazaar, and his ludicrous trip to the Araby, the boy now understands that he was unable to see reality for what it is because he allows his emotions to overwhelm him.

The elements of the story (character, theme, setting and plot) all validate this statement. The text has fully supported the boy’s lack of reality, and one can tell it has been crushed when he decides not to by anything for the girl he loves.