Lost Love

Poe offers a glimpse into his life with "Annabel Lee". He was as passionate in his writing about the love of his life as he was in his writings of murderous tales of terror. While some would view "Annabel Lee" with a perverseness that is very Poe, I do not. Poe wrote this poem out of tribute and mourning for a lost love. "Annabel Lee" unfolds the secrets of Poe's heart with vivid anguish over his "lost" love.

Many critics believe this work to be about Poe's wife, Virginia Clemm. (Hoffman 26-27). I feel that there is some credence to this theory, yet there is a part of me that wonders if parts of this poem refer to the lost love of his childhood, Sarah Shelton.(Regan 179-180) There is a suggestion that Poe himself was a child in a childhood relationship, "I was a child and she was a child...".(Poe) On the other hand, lines that reference the object of Poe's affection as a maiden would suggest someone that had never been married, which would exclude Sarah Shelton. Ms. Shelton was not reunited with Edgar Poe until 1849 about the time that this work was written.

"Annabel Lee" was not excluded from ambiguity which was almost always present in works by Poe. The evidence seems to point more to Virginia Clemm, Poe's child bride, being the inspiration for this work. This troubles me since he was double her age. She was a mere 13 or 14 at the time of marriage. And the marriage brings us problems with the "maiden" from the poem. So to continue with the analysis that this poem is about his wife, means accepting that he was married for several years and his "wife" remained a virgin until her premature death. “But we loved with a love that was more than love-“(Poe) does suggest that there ‘love’ was beyond what the mere mortals view as love. I wonder if Edgar Poe was on a plane above the rest of us. Was his intellect so superior that we just don’t get it? That is hard to swallow so, this brings acceptance that Poe was bizarre in his life as well as his works and may never be understood completely. He loved and lost and grieved as passionately as he loved.

Works Cited:

Circle of Love

To access podcast, click on this link: The Rose.

Works Cited:

Amanda McBroom. April 2007. http://www.amcbroom.com/rose.html

Mailer Annotated Bibliography

Gutman, Stanley. (1975) Mankind in Barbary. Hanover: The University Press of New England.

This book offers a detailed look into the struggles of Mailer. He is analyzed and disected to offer a understanding of himself, his times and the issues with which we all must struggle at some point. Descriptive probes into the thoughts and actions of characters belonging to Norman Mailer are exposed in a old but valuable book.

Braudy, Leo(Ed.). 1972. Norman Mailer: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice- Hall, Inc.

A collection of Essays of Norman Mailer and his works. Provides accounts of interviews with Mailer as well as critical essays of his various works. Does not offer a lot of material for Rojack.


Mailer, Norman. (1982) Pieces and Pontifications. Boston: Little Brown and Company.


Pieces and Pontifications offers a thorough view of Norman Mailer. This resource provides a provoking explanation of Mailer, his thoughts of God, sex, marriage and the times about which he wrote. Good resource for a probe into Mailer and his views.

The Bend in the River

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Motivating Employees

Presentation will begin with Supervisors in the hall:

Supervisor 1 Joseph
Supervisor 2 Justin

Employee 1 Susan
Employee 2 Shirley
Employee 3 Tammy
Employee 4 Paul

We will go through both skits
Power point will be on title screen during skit

Opening speaker Paul
Introduction of Team Paul
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'v Leslie Silko blends her life experiences as a Laguna Pueblo woman into her short story, “Yellow Woman”. A story of sensuality, conforming to standards of society and reconciling the inner self is what evolves from “Yellow Woman”.

I Worker motivation in made up of two perspectives(types of motivators)

Inner
External

Paul to identify both, then discuss internal : Security
Desirable Type of work
Desirable Company
Friendly Co-workers
Good Supervisor
Advancement
Recognition
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Pass to Joseph for discussion of external: Inform Employee
Show concern

Pass to Susan for discussion of external: Create Goals
Provide Feedback
Offer Recognition

Pass to Shirley to discuss negative motivators


Pass to Justin to discuss positive motivators

Pass to Tammy to close, handout and donuts.

Ignorance

Jack London illustrates the importance of ignorance in “To Build a Fire”. Ignorance is the absence of knowledge and understanding. It is the state of being uninformed. In “To Build a Fire”, the protagonists is on an adventure filled with ignorance and greed. He is planning for the spring and his claim. London demonstrates the many dangers in the classical work of survival and death and tries to encourage responsible travel in the territory. He has written this story as a replay; the original writing was for boys and not meant for the interpretation by men. (Segal 4:272-274) Throughout this story, the man is confronted with the brutal reality that ignorance will be his demise.

The man is on a trip in the Yukon with temperatures exceeding fifty below. He is unsure of the temperature as he knew when spittle would crackle on the snow but not at what temperature it would crackle in the air. He has embarked on this trip accompanied only by a husky dog with which he has little companionship. The dog shows an understanding of the environment while the man ignores warnings of the environment in an effort to reach his claim. (London 149)
The old timer had advised the man him of the perils of traveling this territory alone and to always have someone with you. He had failed to follow the advice and his death was whispering in his ears as he attempted to rebuild the fire several times. (London 154) Several thoughts pass through the man’s mind about the old-timer and his dismissed advice. Believing that he is strong and has traveled these conditions is little comfort as his day darkens.

He tries to fight the fear of death by running, hoping to make it to camp. He is cold, hunger and exhausted. As he stumbles in the snow, he thinks of rest and the strength he might gain from resting for a moment. This man has come to realize that he has no choice on dying, it is inevitable. He chooses to let go of the fight against death, to let sleep take him from this earth with visions of the ones who would hear his story. (London 158) Those who would remember to travel together know the temperature and have the supplies necessary and stop when the environment suggested a fire was in order. Survival in the Yukon was dependent on knowledge and understanding of the environment and leaves no room for ignorance.

Works Cited

London, Jack. "To Build A Fire." Sipiora, Phillip. Reading and Writing About Literature. Ed. Phillip Sipiora. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 149-158.

Segal, David. Short Story Criticism. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale Research, Inc., 1992. 10 vols.

Reconciliations

James Baldwin writes realistically of the Ghetto and the traps that hold one to it in the short story, “Sonny’s Blues”. In the beginning, it seems the narrator takes the implied protagonist role as Sonny’s older brother. One might be lead to think of Sonny as the antagonist. Oddly, the roles almost reverse in this writing about circumstances, suffering and reconciliation. Sonny, his childhood friend, and the narrator are brought into maturity and understanding of what part their ethical choices play in the lives of each other and the community.

Sonny finds heroin soothes his soul and provides him the “out of the world” experience that makes him feel in the world and able to play. Playing the piano is the only thing that has ever given Sonny the feeling of being alive and a part of anything. (Baldwin 96) His brother does not understand the importance of playing Jazz in Sonny’s life and thinks it is a dead end. While heroin gives Sonny a feeling of comfort, it causes him to land in prison; consequences of his unethical actions towards others.

A friend from childhood becomes troubled by the awareness that Sonny has ended up in trouble for drugs. A youthful and haphazard statement about the great feeling of heroin has provoked this friend to remorse and the need to apologize. Although he doesn’t offer an apology to Sonny directly, he feels that he may have in some way contributed to Sonny’s drug use and makes the effort to find Sonny’s brother and express concern. While he is still shiftless and has not completely changed his ways, there is a sense of remorse and hope that things work out for Sonny. However small, this does show maturity and understanding of his possible influence on Sonny.

As the older brother, the narrator changes his feeling about the shiftless friend and realizes that he is just a product of the environment and he has his own pain and suffering. He has his own story to tell about his troubles in the ghetto. (Baldwin 81) This realization is the beginning of the narrator’s acceptance and understanding about his brother. As he truly feels the plight of this man, he gives him five dollars when he could have walked away saying he had no money.
Frustration with the conditions of neighborhood is constantly in the narrator’s thoughts. His frustration is apparent in this constant concern over Sonny and the possible return to drugs. A sense of paralysis overcomes the narrator as he thinks of searching Sonny’s room. He doesn’t know how he will handle whatever he might find. (Baldwin 92) He is fearful that he will not take care of Sonny as he has promised his mother. While he wants to honor his commitment, he still has trouble listening to Sonny talk about the drug addiction and even hesitates when asked to go to the nightclub to hear Sonny play.

The nightclub provides a reconciliation of brothers, community and life as Sonny plays as if his very life depends upon it. Comfort comes to the community in the form of listening to the music. Each one there heard Sonny tell his story and comfort others with the understanding that we all suffer and must endure with a story to tell. (Segal 4:22-23) “Sonny’s Blues” ends with a biblical reference indicating that the glass of Scotch and milk “shook like the very cup of trembling”. (Baldwin 99) The New International Version of the Bible translates the reference from Isaiah as “See, I have taken out of your hand, the cup that made you stagger; from that cup, the goblet of my wrath, you will never drink again.” (International Bible Society) The music, the trembling glass, maturity and understanding give way to reconciliation of souls and brothers.



Works Cited:
Baldwin, James. "Sonny's Blues." Sipiora, Phillip. Reading and Writing About Literature. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2002. 79-99.

International Bible Society. "The Holy Bible, New International Version." 1984. Blue Letter Bilble Study Tools. 28 February 2007 .

Segal, David. Short Story Criticism. Detroit: Gale Research, Inc., 1992. Vol. 4, 22-23.

Gretta: Living with the Dead

“The Dead” , by James Joyce, provides robust characters that stir the soul to reach deeper into the world of the living. Gretta is one character in the story that encourages self examination of relationships both past and present. While physically Gretta is with Gabriel, her soul remains with Michael Furey. Michael Furey is the prince charming that the souls of women spend lifetimes hoping to find. Like Gretta and Gabriel , relationships are often about settling. What is the price of settling?

Throughout this work, Gretta is a sideline, never really the center stage. That spot is taken by Gabriel. Gretta “lives” in a shadow. As Gabriel observes Gretta listening to Mr. D’Arcy, she is at a distance. This seems symbolic of their relationship. Gabriel even makes reference to the distance when he thinks of the image as an artist would see his wife. He states he would name it Distant Music. Joyce has, in a very subtle way implied distance. It is also his desire, whether known or unknown, to bridge the distance between them. Joyce symbolizes this when Gabriel dismisses the others and makes Gretta the focus of his attention: “ Gabriel pointed upstairs towards where his wife was standing.” He was very aware of her “grace and mystery” and wanted to be a part of it. His interest in the song was not direct; it was interest because it was captivating to Gretta.

The “mystery” of Gretta draws Gabriel to desire her in ways that he could remember only by remembering years past. Joyce eloquently describes Gabriel’s revived desires for his wife:

"A wave of yet more tender joy escaped from his heart and went coursing in ware flood along his arteries. Like the tender fire of stars moments of their life together, that no one knew of or would ever know of, broke upon and illumined his memory. He longed to recall to her those moments, to make her forget the years of their dull existence tougher and remember only their moments of ecstasy.”

This rekindled desire for Gretta is twisted into an epiphany of their life and a mature acceptance of Gretta and her past love. Once they are in their room Gretta does not respond to him with sexual offerings, she responds to Gabriel with sadness and a “meltdown” of emotions from the song she heard at the party. She opens up to Gabriel and shares the story of the man who died for her. Harold Bloom offers an interesting observation:

“Gretta Conroy in “The Dead” has suddenly recalled an old lover, of whom she has never spoken and who moved her passions more deeply than her husband has done. After the dance she confesses as much to Gabriel, yet she too is remarkably free of shame, penitence, or the desire to apologize...Has her immature passion for Michael Furey been succeeded by a mature love for Gabriel. Joyce does not say so openly, but we do sense that the humiliation Gabriel feels as a result of her confession is an exaggerated, over-dramatized first response. Later he calmly accepts the situation and this is what leads to the visionary state evoked at the end of the story.” (Bloom 371)

The price of settling was reconciled to Gabriel in the end. Both Gretta and Gabriel paid the price of a life without great passions of a lover. Gretta knew the love while Gabriel realized he had never known that feeling. Could "The Dead" title be a reference to Gretta's love with someone of "the dead" instead of the living?

Works Cited:
Bloom, Harold. Modern Critical Reviews James Joyce. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986.
Sipiora, Phillip. Reading and Writing About Literature. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc., 2002.

Writing: The Mirror of Life

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, “Babylon Revisited”, reflects his life with an uncanny aura. Throughout this work, there are several examples of his life in the experiences of the protagonist. “Babylon Revisited” often proves to be a transparent tapestry of Scott Fitzgerald and Charlie Wales.

Challenges with drinking problems plague Scott Fitzgerald most of his adult life. Fitzgerald uses this personal weakness to significantly define Charlie Wales. Conversation between Alix and Charlie offers an example.

“No, no more”, Charlie said, “I am going slow these days.”
Alix congratulated him: “You were going pretty strong a couple of years ago.”
“I’ll stick to it all right,” Charlie assured him. “I’ve stuck to it for over a year and a half now.”

Charlie was aware that alcohol had created difficulties for him and he was maintaining control of his consumption. Marion adds her observations about his drinking habits in this conversation with Charlie and Lincoln.

“I should think you’d have had enough of bars.”
“I only stayed a minute. I take one drink every afternoon, and no more.”
“Don’t you want a cocktail before dinner?” Lincoln asked.
“I take only one drink every afternoon, and I’ve had that.”
“I hope you keep to it,” said Marion.

Another place of Charles determination to control his drinking is illustrated in the bar after Lincoln has told him that Honoria will stay with them for another six months. Charlie is distraught. The author reveals a time of challenge for anyone struggling to control alcoholic behavior: “ He went back to his table. His whiskey glass was empty, but he shook his head when Alix looked at it questioningly. There wasn’t much he could do now except send Honoria some things; he would send her a lot of things tomorrow.” …”No, no more,” he said to another waiter.” Fitzgerald gives strength to Charlie at a time when his personal life was in need of strength as well.

Inspection of Scott’s relationship with his daughter, Scottie, reveals that she, like Honoria, would live with another family during her teenage years. While resources indicate that Scottie went to live with family friends at approximately the same time ‘Babylon Revisited” was published, this could be reflection of the author’s life. Could it be visionary ?

Helen Wales is already deceased in the opening of “Babylon Revisited”, her character reveals some of the struggles of Scott’s marriage to Zelda. Charlie remembers a scene at the Florida that was in his words, “the beginning of the end”. The details Fitzgerald uses in this scene closely resemble scenes from an episode in his own life in which Zelda becomes enraged by his affections for Isadora Duncan.

Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lived a scintillating life on the surface. On a deeper investigation, there was often chaos and strife. Zelda’s life with Scott ended in a mental institution. Fitzgerald tries to reconcile this life in Charlie and Helen. While death takes Helen from Charlie as the consequence of reckless living, Scott loses Zelda to the living consequences of life choices and reckless living.



References:

Fitzgerald, F.Scott. "Babylon Revisited." Sipiora, Phillip. Reading and Writing About Literature. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 6-19.

Prigozy, Ruth. The Fitzgeralds. 2004. 31 January 2007 www.zeldafitzgerald.com/fitzgeralds/index.asp.

Board of Trustees, University of SC. A Fitzgerald Chronology. 4 December 2003. 28 January 2007 http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/chronology.html.

From End to Beginning

Earnest Hemingway develops an explosive plot in “Indian Camp”. Nick Adams is thrown into a journey of years that takes place in only a few short hours. One cannot arrive at maturity without the experience of the journey. These few hours are only a station in Nick’s transition to maturity. It will take thought and time for Nick to absorb and grow from this experience. Nick reveals his immaturity, and hope for immortality, in the last sentence: “In the early morning on the lake sitting in the stern of the boat with his father rowing, he felt quite sure that he would never die.”

Nick is exposed to life forming events throughout “Indian Camp”. These experiences begin when Nick’s father explains to him “this lady is going to have a baby.” Nick, showing his inexperience in life, replies, “I know”. Nick again tries to show understanding after his father explains: “All her muscles are trying to get the baby born. That is what is happening when she screams.” Nick responds with: “I see”. Those two words provide an interesting point for exploration. “I see” appears to indicate an understanding, a comprehension of the events that are taking place. More realistic is the literal meaning of the words. Nick “sees” what is taking place, almost in awe or curiosity.

Another time, Nick tells his father that he likes being an interene “all right”. While this appears to be an attempt to show maturity, his actions of “looking away so as not to see what his father was doing”, indicate his dislike of the experience. If Nick was showing maturity, he would have been able to express his feeling truthfully. Nick doesn’t show any further interest in what his father is doing to complete the surgery on the Indian woman. Nick also handles the suicide of the father rather benignly. A mature person could not witness and understand suicide without some type of reaction.

While Nick does question his father on the death of the father and suicide in general, Nick does not seem to fully grasp the fullness of what has happened. His thoughts ‘that he would never die”, indicate that he does not understand the realities of life and death, even after the events of the night. Certainly as the new day dawns, Nick has been changed forever by the revolting experiences of his night in the Indian camp with his father, Uncle George, the new mother and the suicidal Indian father. Nick will never look at things in quite the same light again, but maturity will come later for him, as will death.


Works Cited:
"Indian Camp." Sipiora, Phillip. Reading and Writing About Literature. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. 28-31.

Life Cafe

Edit:
I am a non-traditional student at Macon State College. I returned to college after taking a fifteen year detour into family life. I have been blessed with three children who make me appreciate my parents in a whole new light. I have a seventeen year old daughter, a fourteen year old son and a seven year old son.

By perserverance, I will spend the next six semesters being a dedicated mom, a full-time, productive employee and a student reaching for the proverbial carrot; a nicely framed piece of paper that will adorn my office. I sometimes feel that it will be very anticlimatic. As I am living this extremely fast ride, the joy of the ride sometimes tries to elude me. I strive daily to remember that I will only go this way once and that each moment is vital and should be lived to the fullest.

Each day is a gift. I choose how I embrace it. When the sun peaks through my window each morning or more often when the alarm clock explodes in the darkness, I remember that I have a choice. I choose to smile and be grateful for the opportunity to go this way.