Don't "Sweat" the Response

Don't worry about writing a response to "Sweat" for tomorrow. But make sure you read it because there will probably be a question about it on the mid-term.

See you tomorrow.

Racism Still Exists

I really liked the story Battle Royal. The conversation we had in class about racism and how it has changed throughout the years. It's sad to know that at point in human existance, that whites treated african americans this way and even worse.

No matter how much anyone says otherwise, I believe racism still exists. Having Barack Obama elected as President shows how far America has come over the years. After reading many articles about the new president, there was one particular article by NBN that stated. "A black man has achieved the highest office in the country. If racism were still prevalent, there is no way that could be possible." That is not true. Obama only covers as a mask to this on growing problem in the U.S. After voting and later having a conversation with my friends, they admitted they voted for Obama because of his race and therefore it makes him "cool". Comparing that conversation to one I had with my grandmother, she wouldn't openly admit why she voted for McCain over Obama when she is democratic. Knowing her personally, I know that she is slightly racist. Other people who let race be a factor in there voting decisions also wont openly admit that there voting decision was based on the candidates race otherwise they would be tagged as a racist. I feel racism will continue to exist even after Obama is inaugurated.

Racism isn't only effecting politics but I feel that it is one of the biggest racial issues America is facing at the time. Slowly but surely our country is seeing a change in this and lets hope that one day, as stated by the Founding Fathers of our nation, that all men truly will be treated as equals.

"Battle Royal"

Please choose one of the following prompts and write a one-page response. Remember what we have discussed about analysis vs. summary, and as always, please point to specific examples from the text to help you make your points.

1. Look up the term “allegory” in a dictionary or glossary of literary terms. How is “Battle Royal” an allegory?

2. How is the narrator’s dramatic situation in “Battle Royal” similar to the situations of the female protagonists in other stories we have read? How is his situation different?

3. How did you feel when you read “Battle Royal”? Angry? Uncomfortable? Excited? Guilty? Sad? There is no right answer to this question, but I want you to focus on your emotional reaction. Point to places in the story that evoked an emotional response, and, most importantly, try to ask yourself why you felt that way. Ask yourself what Ellison is doing that creates that kind of reaction in you.

4. Choose three objects or actions in the story that you feel are symbols and explain what you think they symbolize. Don’t use the fight itself as an example. I am looking for something more specific. For example, you might decide that the act of swallowing his own blood during his speech is symbolic, or that the electrified coins are symbolic, or that the dancing blonde’s American flag tattoo is symbolic. Nearly everything in an allegory is symbolic, so there is plenty to choose from.

5. Interpret the narrator’s dream at the end of the story. How does he feel about himself and the choices he has made?

6. "Battle Royal" was originally titled Invisible Man, but since it is the first part of Ellison's novel, also called Invisible Man, it is now commonly called "Battle Royal." Talk about the original title. What does the narrator mean when he says that he is an "invisible man"?

Why is it funny?

The Poem "Rites of Passage" is one that all can relate to. Being a male, I laugh when I read it. I can picture myself there at the birthday party having that exact same conversation when I was just a child. This scene is a classic for all young males. What makes the poem just as funny is that women can look at it and laugh too. Whether they have children, younger brothers, or nephews I'm sure they have experiences that can relate.

It's hilarious to me that it is assumed that us men will grow out of this stage where we always need to prove ourselves and cling to our pride. That's just it though, Olds calls them "short men" for that very reason; They don't grow out of it. We don't grow out of it. Don't get me wrong, there are some of us that "mature" and do let go of these childish behaviors. I believe that I am one. But, at any given time in a heated basketball game I'll stick out my chest and return to these vary behaviors that I often make fun of.

Competing for life

In the poem “Rites of Passage” these young men are sizing each other up at the birthday part. As they each come into the situation they look around and see what their competition is. They aren’t necessarily competing for anything, just life in general. We all do this, more than we think. As we enter new situations we look around at what we are faced with and who we are going up against. We don’t necessarily mean to do this, but many times it ends up hurting us more than helping us. I know that I have personally “sized” someone up in the beginning and that general impression turned out to be totally wrong. We need to be careful of when we are doing this and how much we are allowing it to hold us back from letting us get to know that individual.

To Women! and men can read this too

Attention all women! Hear Ye, Hear Ye!! Hearken! Listen up!
If you are going to tell a boy you are not interested in him any longer please have some class while doing so. Believe it or not men have feelings to, whether they show them or not is a different story. But they do exist. Do not just out of the blue in the middle of a conversation when a little flirt is said do not just say " I'm just not that into you." I mean, holy crap. especially if you know for sure he really likes you. 2nd. if you are a going to tell someone your not interested and you have done so nicely ( i don't care if he made you feel bad or forgot something important, take the high road and be nice), Please be intelligent enough to think of something that is not so cliche such as "It's not you...... It's me". That is just stupid. and you are stupid for saying it. 3rd. Don't say any of these things via text messages. Either call him or wait until you see him and the time is right. Like I have said twice already, but will say again and put in CAPS, bold, italics, and red for emphasis; HAVE SOME CLASS!

Easily and Widely Misinterpreted...

Apparently, "My Papa's Waltz" is easily ambiguous; it's hard to tell if its about a happy childhood memory or an abusive one. It could really be about both.

Considering some of Roethke's other poems, it seems that he writes about a lot of depressing things (hate, loneliness, death, etc.). With that in mind, the waltzing seemed to be a typical way the father and child interacted, something the kid enjoyed, but it doesn't mean it didn't ever go too far. The father didn't seem too concerned about scratches and scrapes the child received and mom might have just been frowning at the fact that the two men were messing up her clean kitchen. This is one thing that makes the poem confusing; she might have just frowned and not intervened because it would have opened her up receiving scrapes and scratches of her own. Other examples like whiskey, battered knuckles, hanging on like death, being held by a wrist, the waltzing not being easy, and beating can all contribute to the interpretation of the poem as an abusive father/child relationship.

However, maybe it was just about the love. Roethke's use of the word "romped" implies playfulness. As the father waltzed his child off to bed, the kid clung to his shirt. At one point, the child "hung on like death" to the father. The kid probably just enjoyed being with the father so much that he/she didn't want the romping to end. And maybe Roethke described the "waltz" as such a grim thing to illustrate how challenging it was for the child to keep up with the father's pace of romping. The child, in all likelihood, enjoyed the difficulty of the waltz. Otherwise, it would have been boring.

So, maybe the poem was about abuse or just plain fun. It can be confusing and go both ways.

I just flat out don't understand this poem at all.