A Worn Path

A Worn Path by Eudora Welty portrays an old woman's journey through the woods in order to reach town and pick up a bottle of medicine for her grandson. The path through the woods is filled with various surprises and obstacles, but Phoenix Jackson, the old woman manages to venture forth and reach town. When she arrives in town she stops a lady with an armful of Christmas packages and asks her, "Please, missy, will you lace up my shoe?"She holds up her foot and the lady puts down her packages and laces both shoes tightly. Kindness is important in this story and we see this kindness portrayed by several characters like the hunter who pulls Phoenix out of the ditch and the nurse who gives her the medicine for her grandson. Fate is also present in that Phoenix Jackson strives and is destined to reach town even though she faces dangerous encounters in the woods and ignores the hunter who suggests she goes back. The story shows that there are still good people that we rely on and do help us achieve our purpose as we embark on the journeys, paths or directions we choose to travel throughout life.

Araby

The boy wants to buy Margon's sister a present because she cannot attend the bazaar and she is the object of his affections and desires. The purchase of a gift symbolizes something new and exotic (like Margon's sister) that he will find and bring back to her from the Araby bazaar.

Shakespeare

Eng 3000
Sect SU1X Fall 2008
Anna M. Rappa


Identify why Shakespeare is still after 500 years, considered to be the greatest storyteller who has ever lived.

Shakespeare's plays have endured for so many years and are considered timeless. Their appeal is the universal appeal of the human aspect that he gives his characters. His characters are filled with emotions that do not change over time, even though other issues might. His plays portray recognizable people in situations that deal with love, marriage, death, mourning, guilt, and the need to reach agreement among themselves. The language in his works is expressive and powerful and is still considered the most challenging and rewarding roles ever written. His characters are complex and varied in nature, which include Kings, drunkards, generals, pickpockets, shepherds, hired killers, and philosophers. Shakespeare had a great understanding of people and their nature. He included many morally flawed characters and revealed their struggles and failures just as people do in real life, sometimes successful or sometimes with tragic failure.
Shakespeare also contributed greatly to the development of the English language. Many words and phrases from his plays and poems have become a part of our everday speech. For example, phrases like fair play, a foregone condition, catch cold, and disgraceful conduct. He also invented common words such as assassination, bump, eventful, and lonely. Many people can identify his powerful phrases without ever reading one of his plays. Examples include, "To be, or not to be," "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears," and "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"
His plays have influenced our thinking by presenting individual characters with conflict and emotions that everyone can relate to. He has shaped the attitudes of millions of people by his ideas on heroism, romatic love, and the nature of the tragedy, along with the portrayal of historical figures. Shakespeare's widespread influence reflects his popularity even after 500 years.

Pleasant Hills-Homage to A Clean-Well Lighted Place

The old woman awakens every morning at six o'clock. She glances outside the only window in her room and admires how tranquil and perfect everything is as she takes in the magnificent view. She knows that Pleasant Hills is one of the loveliest places on earth. It is somewhat of a resort, a place to unwind and forget your troubles. The sun is shining on the unblemished green carpet of grass that covers the grounds. The leaves on the trees are starting to vary in color with different shades of gold and reds and all is well and in order as it should be.
The old woman plans her day in the same fashion as the previous one. She washes up and gets ready for breakfast. All is fine because her breakfast will be served warm and then she can watch her favorite morning show. The old woman hears the other residents halfway down the corridor as she makes her way to the dining room for breakfast. The familiar voices and faces are all seated and enjoying their morning meal. The older attendee is pouring the morning coffee, while the younger attendee is reading the newspaper. The older attendee motions to the younger attendee to go and get more creamers. The younger attendee returns with the creamers and mutters that these old people don't need anymore cream. The older attendee mentions that these old people rely on them for support and nourishment and the least she can do is attend to them. The younger attendee responds, "they are a nuisance, a waste of space, since they are old and smelly." "All they are is good for nothing." The old woman signals to the young attendee for more coffee. The young attendee quickly pours the coffee and heads back to her newspaper. Her shift is about to end after breakfast and she is looking forward to going home. The old woman signals to her again for more coffee. The young attendee ignores the old woman's request and replies, "I am done for today," as she quickly exits the dining room.
As the day progresses the residents are happy reminiscing about past events and enjoying each other's company. After dinner everyone gathers around the piano as the old woman plays her favorite melodies while the others sing along. The older attendee glances out the window and watches the sun setting slowly while the oak tree's leaves are gently swaying in the wind and casting their moving shadow on the side of the building. The residents will soon retire for the evening. She knows the Pleasant Hills is the only home left for many of these people. It is a clean well-respected establishment for over fifty years. There is nothing left for most of them in the outside world. Their families have chosen to give them up and they have survived failure, disappointment, sickness, loss and they're still here. They are true survivors. Even though there may be nothing left for them, the one thing they will always have is the peace and security of Pleasant Hills. Many have gone home but don't stay away for too long. They always come back to what they've known for so many years. I guess they all miss that magnificent view from their windows.

A Clean Well-Lighted Place

Eng 3000
Prof. J. O’Brien
Fall 2008
October 2, 2008
Anna M. Rappa
Analysis

A Clean Well-Lighted Place

The short story, A Clean Well-Lighted Place by Ernest Hemingway portrays a young waiter, an older waiter, and an old deaf man who sits alone each night and gets drunk. We know that the younger waiter dislikes the old deaf man for keeping him at the café late into the night. The younger waiter finally tells the deaf old man he is finished drinking because they are closed now. The older waiter is not troubled by the deaf old man because he relates to and recognizes what the deaf old man feels. He is not bothered by being kept late at the café because he always feels that someone may be in need of the café. The café represents a refuge or solace that a person may escape to in order to avoid loneliness and despair and receive a sense of purpose.

The contrasting views between the two waiters depict how a young person may view someone older with disdain and dread as opposed to someone who is already aged that can empathize with the deaf older man. He mentions the nothingness out there except for the clean well-lighted café, which remains a symbol of hope in the midst of nothingness.

The nothingness was familiar to the older waiter who stops at a bar after he leaves the café. He is similar to the deaf old man who dreads going home. When he finally gets home, he falls asleep at daylight and comments to himself; “it is probably only insomnia. Many must have it.” He takes comfort in believing that others are just like him in yearning for a clean well-lighted café.

Young Goodman Brown

Anna M. Rappa
English 30
Section SUIX
Fall 2008
September 23, 2008


Reaction: We realize that Goodman Brown's journey (either real or in a dream) changes his perception to those close to him and towards those in his community. The character's Goodman and Faith can be seen as symbolic refrences to abstract suggestion. Honesty and faith seems to have been lost as Goodman Brown discovers bitterness and a distain for life after the journey through the forest. He uncovers the evil and wickedness within himself while uncovering the lies in others. The story portrayed conflicts between good and evil within each of us and that we may encounter unexpected surprises that can either benefit or destroy us as life unfolds.

Interpret how the quote, "When you look into the abyss, the abyss looks into you" relates to Young Goodman Brown.
Goodman Brown loses his sense of confidence in the good of human nature. He discovered a deep distrust and disdain for people which leads him to mirror this disdain within himself as he projects it towards others. The discoveries that we encounter in life can seem like an abyss, reflecting back the same disillusions we have pertaining to ourselves and our roles in life.

Compare Eudora Welty's, A Worn Path to Nathaniel Hawthorne's, Young Goodman Brown.
I find that family is very important to the main characters. There is a path or journey in both short stories which is filled with encounters. The encounters are startling, troublesome and a bit of a nuisance. A sense of community either moral or immoral is also present that interacts with the characters.