The Things They Carried Interpretation

The Things They Carried is a story that tells the activities of a platoon fighting in the Vietnam War while focusing on what items they carried around with them. Many of these were things they needed for the war, necessary supplies and weapons. Other items they carried seemed unimportant and unnecessary for a war but these were the things that were portrayed as the most important. When reading over this story at first it may appear that these little extra things the soldiers carried were insignificant. After all they weighed very little in comparison to the weapons that “weighed 7.5 pounds unloaded, 8.2 with its full twenty-round magazine” or the extra magazines the soldiers carried “adding on another 8.4 pounds at minimum, fourteen pounds at maximum” (1205). In comparison to these, along with the many other heavy weapons the soldiers had to carry, the small trinkets they carried around with them may seem to be insignificant to the reader. These small trinkets, however, are what add the most weight and bring the most burdens to these soldiers.
Tim O’Brien, the author of this story, seems to focus much of the story around the physical weight of the objects the men carry. As he lists the different weapons and machinery carried by each soldier he gives its weight. But when he tells of the other things they carry by choice, premium dope, condoms, a diary, comic books, an illustrated New Testament, and a hunting hatchet among these, he does not list their weight. Is this because their weight is insignificant compared to the other things they carried or because the weight, or importance rather, of these objects could not be determined by simply placing a number on it and calling that its weight. It seems as though O’Brien is eliciting to a much greater weight that these items carry. Not a physical weight, but an emotional weight. These all remind the soldiers of other things and other places. These things allowed the soldiers to escape the full reality and the monotony they were stuck in while fighting this war. Perhaps O’Brien neglects to include the weight of these items because their weight is incalculable.
O’Brien also discussed the intangible things that added to the weight of these soldiers. He tells of Jimmy Cross, the platoon leader, carrying the “responsibility for the lives of his men” (1204) and the “unweighed fear” (1205).
One of the central themes of this story is the weight these soldiers were under and how much weight many of the soldiers in combat face. O’Brien uses the heavy weight of the machine guns and other weapons to impact upon us the physical weight but he also uses the “peculiar little odds and ends” and the intangibles to allude to the tremendous weight they bore internally (1207). “They carried the sky. The whole atmosphere, they carried it, the humidity, the monsoons, the stink of fungus and decay, all of it, they carried gravity” (1210). This quote gives us a glance at the capacity of this weight, of having all these forces bearing down on the soldiers. When reading this story we shouldn’t simply read over this and continue but rather it is crucial that readers stop here and contemplate what this really means. How impossibly heavy it would be to carry the atmosphere and to carry gravity. O’Brien discussed the soldiers fighting and “hoping not to die” then soon after he describes “it was the burden of being alive” (1212). The soldiers could not escape. They didn’t want to die yet they were burdened because they were alive. “They carried their own lives” (1210).
We are able to sense the heaviness of all these things as we read about the men daydreaming while on guard. It says “they were carried away by jumbo jets… the weights fell off, there was nothing to bear… it was all lightness… they gave themselves over to lightness, they were carried, they were purely borne” (1214). The soldiers would imagine that they were taken away from the place they were at, away from the destruction and burdens. They were simply free and light. That’s all they wanted. Was to be light. For the weights to be lifted. Not just the physical weights but the emotional weights as well.
Another thing that suggests the unimportance of the war weapons the soldiers carried is the fact that every time O’Brien listed on of these war supplies the soldiers carried he would explain why they carried this. As if it isn’t obvious that these are needed in fighting a war and staying safe while doing so. An example of this is, “Because the land was mined and booby-trapped, it was standard operating procedure for each man to carry a steel-centered, nylon-covered flak jacket, which weighed 6.7 pounds, but which on hot days seemed much heavier. Because you could die so quickly, each man carried at least one large compress bandage, usually in the helmet band for easy access. Because the nights were cold, and because the monsoons were wet, each carried a green plastic poncho that could be used as a raincoat or ground sheet or makeshift tent. With its quilted liner, the poncho weighed almost two pounds” (1203). O’Brien does not, however describe the purpose behind carrying the little things they carry. This is partly because there is no functionality to them but also because their purpose to the soldier cannot be summed up in a simple description. These things that they carry mean so much to them, these things seem to be their identity. As they are far away from their home, in another world it seems to them, these things serve as their identity and as a reminder of who they are outside of this war. O’Brien emphasizes that these little things were necessary for these men to carry. Maybe not necessary for fighting the war but necessary for their survival.
As you read The Things They Carried it is important that you not only look at the physical weight of the items they carried but that you also evaluate the weight behind the other things they carried including their thoughts and memories. As O’Brien says “grief, terror, love, longing-these were intangibles, but the intangibles had their own mass and specific gravity, they had tangible weight” (1213). Each of these things added to the burden of the soldier. I believe one of the things O’Brien was trying to convey in this story is just how incredibly pressured and encumbered these soldiers were; to deal with this destruction and death and fear while being still so young. It’s important that as we read this story we see that under all this pressure they still continued. Each day they began again. Not so much out of determination and perseverance but more out of fear and embarrassment. Not for “dreams of glory or honor, just to avoid the blush of dishonor” (1214).

4-19 A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings

As I read this story I became overwhelmed with sadness for the man being mistreated. He was clearly very sick and handicap and the people simply mocked him and treated him horribly. Just because he was different they began to treat him as an outcast instead of helping him. He obviously needed help.
I also found it very odd that the family allowed them angel to live in their house even though it bothered them so much. The story stresses how much Elisenda hated him being there. This made me think of how often people ignore or don’t take the time to get to know someone because they think they are so different from them. When in reality everyone could gain something very meaningful from getting to know someone. Everyone has something very unique to offer.
At the very end as the angel is starting to regain its strength and fly off is says “Elisenda let out a sigh of relief, for herself and for him” this showed that she did care for him. Though it seemed that she despised his presence and had no care what so ever for him here it says that she was glad for him. she was relieved that he had gained his strength back and that he could go on to a better life and better treatment. This relates to how often people mistreat or judge someone because it seems to be what everyone else is doing. They feel the need to treat some people horribly out of fear that if they don’t then they might become the one being mistreated. But Christ calls us to live separate and to love those that the world rejects. It’s so important that we as Christians live out this command and love everyone because as it says in Matthew 25:40 “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”.

4-14 The Boys Next Door

“I see you” is the greeting used in Best Buddies and it is a saying that has changed my life. Best Buddies is a club where students with intellectual disabilities are paired together with other students so that they can build a friendship together and support one another. I will never forget my first buddy, Christian. I was nervous, at first, about being in this club because I was not really sure what it would be like or how I would interact with my buddy. I ended up having a blast, however, and Christian changed my life and my thinking. He was always so full of joy and excitement when I went to see him. This joy was often times contagious and I ended up being happy and smiling when I was with him. Christian loved laughing and having fun and he always made everyone around him laugh. Christian and all the other buddies had a great way of making me feel so special and important when I went to visit them.
When I first joined Best Buddies I didn’t really know what was meant by the saying “I see you” but its meaning became very clear to me after a while. It means that when working with people it is important that you see them for who they are and not what disabilities they may have. I realized that Christian and the other buddies are people and they should not be treated any differently or deprived of opportunities because of their disability.
As I read the play The Boys Next Door I was reminded of the people I met while in Best Buddies and the challenges and joys that came from working with them. Just as in the play people with disabilities are often taken advantage of. This is especially sad because they are so trusting and would never think that anyone was out to harm them.
Just as we saw Jack struggle with communicating with some of the other characters in the play it is often times hard to understand what they mean by some things or understand what they are doing. It takes a lot of patience to work with people with disabilities but it is incredibly rewarding.
When I went on the AFI tour and got to see the clients there doing jobs and increasing their abilities I was able to see better how functional disabled people can be. A lot of times society puts up limits on what we think they can and can’t do and often people aren’t able to reach their full potential because no one encourages them or allows them to practice. As we saw in the play, however, people with disabilities are capable of maintaining jobs and supporting themselves with the help of an overseer. The AFI works with their clients to increase their abilities and give them opportunities to interact in society.
Some of the biggest obstacles people with disabilities face are those set by society. Out of ignorance many people fear them and put them all in the same category. Society often assumes that they are all the same and that they can’t do anything because of their disability. Many try to avoid any contact or work with them because they are different than them. If people would take time to learn about disabilities and the wide range of its effects I think they would be less afraid and more eager to get to know the person behind the disability.

4-12 Art Museum

I went to the Polk Museum of Art for this assignment, and I stayed there for at least 40 minutes. The trip to the art museum was definitely a new experience for me. I had never been to an art museum before and I was excited to go. As I began looking at some of the art I was surprised by how much I was moved by it. I experienced all different types of emotions and reactions. I didn’t realize how well an artist can portray a certain mood or experience and make the looker actually experience it. In one picture I saw I could see the sadness and confusion of the artist jumping off the piece of work right in front of me.
Some of the pieces of art I didn’t understand at all, however. I was able to see a unique beauty in each piece but some of them didn’t seem like they meant anything. I was really surprised by how much I got out of the painting I looked at for six minutes. At first it just seemed like a really good drawing of a girl lying on a chair. But as I stood there more and more was revealed. I noticed small details and began wondering why the artist chose to do some of the things he did. As I was writing down my thoughts on this piece and others I was really surprised by how well they applied to my life and how relevant many of them seemed to different aspects of my life.
Words often can only express so much and are usually limited in their effect. Art, however, can be the catalyst to a story that only one mind can interpret. A picture can paint a thousand different words, depending on the individual viewing it. Art ignites imaginations and once imagination takes flight there is no telling where it can take you.



Questions

How does she lay so easily on that chair?
As if she’s floating in air.
Though it looks so effortless as she lays there
It seems that the weight of the world is upon her.
The distraught exposed on her face.
Does she know that she’s not the only one
Who paints this façade?
Who pretends everything is okay.
As she balances herself on that chair
The balances of her life seem to be broken.
As she’s surrounded by darkness
Does she see the light above her?
Will she respond to this light,
And see that all is not hopeless?
The light beacons her.
She moves.
Is it the right move?
Is it the wrong move?
Questions only produce more questions.
Where are the answers.
The only answer she finds are in her head.

4-7 Lectio Divina and Reading

In McAloon’s Reading for Transformation through the Poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins McAloon mentions that he practices lectio divina with different works of Hopkins’. Though lectio divina is probably most commonly used for reading scripture, it is very useful and effective in reading poetry. Through practicing each step of lectio divina the reader is able to focus more intently on the piece he or she is reading. Often times when I read poetry or some other writing I just read the words with no deep understanding of what they mean. And even times when I am trying to understand what the writing is saying I don’t always get the whole message. But in lectio divina because you are rereading parts of the work it allows you to see something new each time. As you begin to read and reread a piece of literature more and more of the meaning and depth is unveiled.
Most have experienced this while reading scripture but it works for literature as well. Oftentimes there is so much depth and hidden meaning in literature that it is almost impossible to uncover it all by simply reading it once. It takes rereading, focus, and meditation to uncover all that the author is trying to say. And much like what McAloon describes, the reader undergoes a sort of “transformation” from reading and meditating on these works. Through uncovering meaning in literature, readers are able to go on from this experience with a broader perspective and a greater knowledge of life and situations. Most times literature talks about a certain stage in life or a particular struggle or problem most people face. Through uncovering this and reading the author’s view we are able to better cope with these and gain a new knowledge so that we will not be ignorant to it if someone we know is facing a situation.

4-5 Darkness

This essay, Darkness, Questions, Poetry and Spiritual Hope brought to light many things that a lot of people don’t always like to hear. But it’s all true, however, and perhaps this is why it can be so difficult to take in. We all have to face darkness many times in our lives. This is something that we often times don’t want to acknowledge but it is always with us. Turning a blind eye to darkness and pain only creates an unrealistic world that is meaningless. If there is no darkness and difficulty in your life then there can be no good times.
Though facing darkness is often a very difficult and confusing thing, we can “face darkness and then surface with spiritual hope”. This does not mean that once we deal with the darkness every question will be answered and all will be well, but when you go through the darkness and come through it allows you to see the strength you have and gives you confidence in knowing that you can get through. In many struggles, no matter what area of life they affect, they often turn into spiritual struggles as well. In going through these struggles many questions often come up question our faith and what it means. But in those questions and confusion we can cling to the promise that God will always be with us and even when we don’t think God could possibly be with us we can remember that the presence of God is “with us in the dark makes it possible for us to sit with the question of darkness without being destroyed by madness”. His comfort allows us to remain in our darkest moments and give us hope as we persevere into a brighter day. Embracing darkness solidifies our faith and our confidence in God.

3-31 Park Field Trip

Is It By Chance?

Is it by chance
That the radiance of the sun brings such a sweet touch to the skin?
Or that our planet works so in sync,
Everything working together to accomplish something greater.
The sight I see with the combination of rain and sunshine;
The beautiful colors all lined up in the sky,
The rainbow they call it, cannot be by chance.
Is it by chance that the aroma of the orange blossoms
Is so blissful to the nose?
I cannot look at the beauty of this world
And not see my Creator in it.
Every detail is so exact.
Everything functioning perfectly.
The very trees and rivers
Exclaim the praises of their Creator.
As I see the white fluffy clouds that could do no harm
Turn the sky into a dark vicious sight
I ponder the power of God.
To know that the wind and seas obey Him,
That the thunder roars at His command.
I cannot look at the earth in all its beauty and subtlety
And believe it’s all by chance.








I went to Lake Bonny Park for this assignment, and I stayed there for at least 40 minutes. As I sat in the park and began to look at the nature around me I began to feel overwhelmed by the beauty of nature and the creativity and power of God. As I thought back to what I learned in biology about plants, how everything works just right and every part is in plants that are needed it allowed me to see a greater beauty and more of an appreciation. To see how much care God put into making the plants.
One of the things that stood out to me a lot while I was at the park was the death among life. There were many plants with blossoms on them that were a vibrant green and among these were dead plants. Brown and lifeless (I included a picture above). I saw this as a reflection of the new life that comes with knowing Christ as Savior. Among the “dead” or the lost, we are able to be vibrant as we are filled with Christ’s love. We are able to stand out among the rest and others are able to see the beauty in us because of the transformation that comes with accepting Christ. And just as with the change of the season life and green comes to the plant again, so we can gain new life when we begin a new season and turn our lives over to Christ.
I also noticed the beauty of the sky. It’s color so perfect and refreshing. As I looked out to find its end I saw that it just continued. A massive expanse covering us. This helped me to better understand the omnipresence of God. How He can be everywhere. Never ending.
I really enjoyed this trip because just recently I had been struggling with a decision, not knowing whether or not I was doing the right thing, and as I was sitting in the park the Lord brought to my heart the words of Scripture “Peace, be still”. This reassured the confidence I have in Christ trusting that He will lead me in the right path if I live in obedience to Him daily.

3-29 State of the Planet

“It must be a gift of evolution that humans can’t sustain wonder. We’d never have gotten up from our knees if we could.” This is one of the lines that stood out the most to me in Hass’ poem, State of the Planet. It stood out to me for two reasons. The first being how well he captured the incredible things in nature. If we really were able to observe nature and see all the beauty in it and how well everything works in sync I don’t think we would ever be able to stop looking. Even now, the scientists who specialize in different aspects of nature are discovering new things each day. New species discoveries are being made as well as a better understanding for how things, such as cells, work to perform their function. A cell is small in and of its self but to have all the other parts that make up the cell performing a very specific task is incredible. If even one of these incredibly small parts didn’t do its job correctly the whole cell would be out of tune and this would affect the organism as well.
The second thing that stood out to me was the fact that Hass, as an evolutionist, could find incredible beauty and wonder in the nature around him. As Christians, we understand that we have a Creator who has given us this beautiful world that functions so perfectly for us to enjoy. But often times we simply overlook it and dismiss how incredible it is that each and every aspect of nature functions perfectly in order for everything to exist the way it does. Many times we, myself included, don’t take the time to enjoy all the wonder found in the earth around us and subsequently we don’t give the praise and thanks to the Creator. God gave us this earth for us to enjoy and to see a reflection of the power and creativity of our God. I think it’s incredible that Hass, an evolutionist who believes this all has happened by chance, is still able to see beauty in it all and notice the fine details that make everything function so perfectly. Though Hass doesn’t believe in a creator he still finds wonder and awe in the things surrounding him.
As Christians, if we could take the time to see the wonder and awe in God’s creation we would be much more at peace. God gave us this earth to enjoy and if we allow ourselves to, we can get lost in the magnificence of nature for awhile. Just seeing how well everything functions together and how meticulously God takes care of each part of His creation puts me at peace. I know that this is a big big world and if my God can take care of all the plants, animals, and people, and put that much detail into creating them, then He can take care of me!

3-24 Levels of Being

As Professor Corrigan drew and discussed the “Levels of Being” diagram in class I realized how much it really does relate to us. Just as the outer layer of the earth makes up only about 1 percent of its composition so the “outer self” of humans only makes up 1 percent of humans. These also relate in the sense that it is the first thing that you see. You’re able to judge the appearance right away. See its beauty and faults. It’s the easiest level to get to because it’s right there before you. But the inner layer is more difficult to get to and takes more time. You must get to know people on a deeper layer to see this part of them. This part of people makes up the most of them. What people do, say, and think come from this level.
As me and my group members were discussing some the actions and qualities of Twinkle in the story This Blessed House one of them said something about how Twinkle seemed to drink a lot. Though we considered this an outer layer quality at first we discovered that it’s very likely that this probably stemmed from a struggle or insecurity she was dealing with on her inner level. We talked about how Twinkle’s constant excitement could simply be a cover up of some hurt she was experiencing. Many times people try to hide their hurt by changing the appearance of their outer layer to seem happy or content.
Professor Corrigan also talked about the core of a person being “self in God”. Just as this is the very deepest part of the earth and the most difficult and dangerous part to get to the core of a person is much the same. Oftentimes people never fully establish who they are in God. Because God is so magnificent and so great I don’t believe anyone can ever fully establish this part of themselves. No matter how close you are in your walk with Christ there is always something new to learn and more room to grow. Continual development in this area is incredibly important, however. Though you can never fully develop it the stronger rooted you are in this area, in Christ the more stable you are as a person. You are able to know who you are and what your purpose is in life. As you develop this area and know more about what you stand for it becomes easier for others to see the inner layers of who you are.

3-21 My Tea with Madame Descartes and This Blessed House

There were many similarities in these two stories. When I first read them I was a little disappointed I guess you could say because nothing really happened, there was no climax in the story. But as I thought about them some more and read into the descriptions a little I realized these stories were meant for so much more than just a story line and entertainment. As you read these and others like these you learn about a character. Through knowing what they think and what they do the reader is able to relate this to people they may know or they may even be able to relate some qualities to themselves. You’re able to grow as a reader and as a person from reading these stories.
As I read the different things the author said about these characters I realized that it takes so much more than physical descriptions to describe and know a person. Often times the qualities we see in others that we like and remember long term are not physical but qualities they have or things they do. Just as David St. John says in My Tea with Madame Descartes “There’s so much we name as beautiful simply to dismiss it, cage it, desire then dispense with it” we often look at physical beauty and admire it until it gets old or something better comes along and you soon forget. But actions and character sticks around a lot longer and tells you so much more about a person. I really enjoyed reading these stories because I was able to see the importance of character. How well you can get to know someone by observing their qualities and actions.
Through reading This Blessed House I felt like I was able to really know Twinkle even though she doesn’t exist. The descriptions the author gave brought her to life and made her seem to be a person I have known for quite some time. I, as the reader, was able to relate to the character and through her actions I learned from myself.

3-19 Character Story

It’s the end of the day and it’s been a rough one for Alley. What better to do than go to the park. It’s the only place she could go where no one would bother her. Even the park didn’t seem the same as usual. Alley saw a man sitting on a bench. It was the only empty seat near her and her feet were aching from the new shoes she was wearing. Alley usually tries to avoid meeting new people but she needed to sit. He was very jittery, anxious almost. Alley decided to sit but she wouldn’t talk to him.
As soon as she sat down she could smell him. It was an odd scent. Something she had never smelt before. Alley couldn’t decide if she liked it or not. He was an average man. Not big, not small, just average. His hair was brown, just like the fall leaves that covered the trees and the ground that surrounded them. His face was rather pale and he looked like something was bothering him tremendously. He wore a thick coat; a little too thick for this nice cool weather, Alley thought. He had to be burning up wearing that coat.
As Alley had decided earlier she hadn’t said anything to him. She really didn’t feel like interacting with anyone new and he didn’t seem like he was the least bit interested in the person that was now occupying the park bench next to him. His jittering was starting to get to Alley though. He was shaking his legs a lot and it shook the whole bench. Finally, he apologized. He must have seen the agitation in Alley’s face. Alley felt bad, “It’s okay” she said. He stopped.
They both sat quite again. Alley began to wonder about this man. She was generally not the least bit interested in strangers but this man seemed different. He was many years younger than Alley. Twenty five she guessed. Oh how she wished she were twenty five again. Then again, as she thought about it she remembered it’s a lot of work being twenty five. Establishing a career, trying to start a family, wondering if all of that is what you want for the rest of your life. No, she was just fine being fourty three. She’s learned a lot and glad she knows it now.
Alley couldn’t help but think that she could help this man in some way. She’d experienced a lot in her life and if her mistakes could save someone else the heartache why should she be so selfish?
“My names Alley.” It’s the only thing she could think to say. She was always bad at starting conversations. This was part of the reason she had so few friends. His pale face all of a sudden turned a little pink. “Ben” he said not looking at her.
“It’s a beautiful day. Isn’t it?” Alley said, trying to continue the conversation.
“Yes, splendid! I’ve been out here all day and haven’t felt like leaving. You just can’t pass up days like these. Even if you are busy. Every once in a while you just gotta check out for the day. It’s good for ya. Like a reboost. “
Alley couldn’t help but notice how much life had filled him all in that split second when she asked that question. He no longer was shaking, he lifted his head and he looked at her for the first time. His eyes were a piercing blue. They took her breath away. She could see, just in one glimpse of his eyes, all the hurt and joy he’d experienced. She had never seen so much in a person from one look before.
Ben began to talk about how important it is to enjoy the small things like a nice day. He talked about the relaxation that came from submerging yourself in these things. He talked about his job working with the FBI. He was incredibly intelligent for his age. Alley couldn’t believe all he knew. He didn’t have to tell her she could just tell that he was a wise man. As he described his job and all that he witnesses on a daily basis, the evil and horror, Alley couldn’t understand how anyone could witness all that and still have joy like he did. From the minute Alley started talking to him his demeanor changed. He was no longer jittery and he no longer looked sad. But she couldn’t help but wonder what was bothering him before and how his mood changed so quickly. She didn’t want to ask though. The life and joy that exuded from him was captivating. She had tried to offer her help and experience to him but he blew her away. He had so much more knowledge and experience than she would have ever dreamed of having. Not just from his job but simply from his life. He talked about his family and his late discovery of their importance. They didn’t talk to him anymore because he took advantage of them one too many times. Now, he sees how important it is to have family and he talked so highly of them. Even though he hasn’t talked to them in years Alley could tell he loved them.
Alley started to think about her mom. She hadn’t visited her since their last argument three years ago. Her mom was like Ben. Always telling her to slow down, take time to enjoy life. Alley never understood what that meant, until now. She’d been so busy with everything she didn’t even have time to realize she was miserable. Alley now saw all those long hours at her job and all the stress that went into it as nothing. She realized the only thing that matters and the only thing that should have mattered all along was that she enjoy her life and the people placed in it.
Alley’s mood about the day, and life had taken on a new outlook. It no longer seemed burdensome and everyone in it an annoyance. She now appreciated everything. She noticed for the first time the greenness of the grass, the crispness in the air, and the pleasant sound of the leaves crunching as people walked on them.
Suddenly she realized something; the key to all the knowledge that Ben seemed to have. Life is something to be enjoyed.

3-15

pass

3-03 Sonny's Blues Lectio Divina reading

During the Lectio Divina reading I was able to grow a lot in the text. As we were beginning with the lectio stage I was listening to Professor Corrigan reading and the words “Freedom lurked around us and I understood, at last, that he could help us to be free if we would listen, that he would never be free until we did” stood out to me the most. As I reflected on this and what it meant through the second reading I saw that it had a very strong connection to spirituality. Many people can sense the freedom that Christians have and those who have a close relationship with Christ desire those around them to experience that freedom as well. For me, as I’ve grown deeper in my relationship with Christ I have developed a stronger desire to share the freedom and peace I’ve received through accepting Christ. Before making this choice I had struggles and made mistakes but I no longer suffer in the same way. I have a new freedom in Christ and though I may struggle I don’t struggle in the same way. I know have my Savior to lay my burdens on and I have the confidence that He will carry me through. During the oratio section of the Lectio Divina my prayer became “Lord make me that desperate, that determined to share Your gospel with others. Give me such a burden for others and their struggles that You may reach them through me.” Just as Sonny seemed to be so persistent that his listeners find freedom so that he may find freedom I also desire that passion. It is my prayer that those around me will sense my freedom and the presence of Christ will be so strong within me. I also want my desire to see others saved so strong that I am always praying for them and always living to show the joy and peace that comes from my redemption in Christ.

3-01 The Imaginary Invalid

I attended Southeastern’s production of The Imaginary Invalid and watched the entire play.
My grandmother always used to take me to see The Nutcracker when I was younger so I've had a little bit of exposure to theatre but I haven't had much. I have, however, enjoyed the plays I have seen. Watching The Imaginary Invalid was a great experience and it has given me a new appreciation for theatre. It really is literature being played out right in front of you. I was able to engage and experience the material in a new way through being able to watch it acted out. This was really cool for me because I could see the reactions of the people in the story and better picture what was happening.
One of my favorite parts of the play was when Cleante and Angelique sang the opera song for Argan, Mr. Diafoirus, and Thomas Diafoirus. In this scene, Cleante was telling a story of a father who denied his daughter’s wishes to marry the man she loved and forced her to marry another separating them forever. Cleante was referring to Argan in this opera but he did not catch on. Argan began exclaiming what a horrible thing that was to do; blind to the fact that he was doing that very thing to his daughter. This was a reflection on how many people react sometimes in reality. We look at a situation and make judgments of other people and their actions but when we are in a similar situation we expect that people should view it differently. This scene showed the irony in what Argan says and what he does but it is also something that many people encounter every day.
I really enjoyed this play because it told the story of two lovers with humor and in a way that is relatable to all. I also liked that many different types of art were incorporated into this production including acting, dance, instruments, and singing.

2-24 When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd

When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd is a poem that explains the sadness and grief experienced by its author after the death of President Lincoln. President Lincoln was a very dear president to many at the time of his assassination and much of the nation was mourning at the news. One of the lines that stuck out the most to me was when Walt Whitman wrote
"O what shall I hang on the chamber walls?
And what shall the pictures be that I hang on the walls,
To adorn the burial-house of him I love?"
As I read this and thought about what it meant I found it to be Whitman wondering how he could remember all the great things President Lincoln has done and capture them in something as simple as a picture. Though a picture can say a thousand words sometimes, I believe it can also leave out so many more. Especially at such a sad time as death. When someone dies those close to that person want so badly to remember the person; their personality, their accomplishments, and what they meant in their life. It becomes very hard to acknowledge and remember all that a person has accomplished. With all the great things Lincoln did for our country Whitman, in saying this, was recognizing the incredible impact Lincoln has had on America and saying that it is not possible to simply sum all these events up in a picture. Lincoln’s life had so much meaning to so many and it is impossible that it could all be wrapped up in a photograph. In the line before this Whitman said
“These and with these and the breath of my chant,
I’ll perfume the grave of him I love.”
Here he is saying that he will share the accomplishments of his friend in order to honor the name and office of Lincoln. Whitman had a great respect for President Lincoln and the progress and growth he encouraged and led as president. The respect and adoration Whitman had for Lincoln is very evident in this poem as he grieves and comes to terms with the death of a loved one.

2-22 Blogging

I see many connections in the blogging instructions and the activities we do in class. Perhaps the biggest connection is working in small groups. While discussing a piece of literature in small groups we are engaging texts with ourselves and with others. This is much like blogging because in blogging we interact with the text in our own way just as we do when we share in the small groups. We also get feedback and opinions from others which is similar to reading the blog posts of others which is a requirement for every Friday. And just as we must comment on our classmates' blogs we also respond to our group members' comments and interpretations of the literature. I also see connections with the ideas about reading we've discussed in class. For example, when we read the poem The Traveling Onion we also discussed methods of interpreting this poem and finding its meaning. We also go through this process as we are writing our blog post.
Blogging does a great job in extending the reading process because it forces me to actually analyze the text and search for its meaning. If we did not have to do a blog post I may simply read the text and not go much further than that but since I know I have to do a post I make sure to engage in the text as I'm reading by writing comments and making connections to other literature I've read. I also reread some passages sometimes if I feel I didn't quite get what the author was trying to say. This has worked really well for me. Even though it requires a lot more work and time it is very beneficial and I am able to learn so much more. It is also a big help knowing that Professor Corrigan is not looking for "perfection." Through participating in the blog posting I have learned that "writing is a process" as Professor Corrigan says in his Guide to Blogging. Seeing this has also helped me to engage my ideas better because I know that all my posts and ideas don't have to be perfectly explained and argued.

Cemetery

I went to the Lakeview, Roselawn and Tiger Flowers cemetery complex for this fieldtrip, and I stayed there for at least 40 minutes.

2-17

I am using a pass.

2-15 Deeper meaning of works

"And in that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah will flow with water; and a spring will go out from the house of the Lord to water the valley of Shittim." Joel 3:18

I really enjoyed painting in class the other day. Though I’m not the best painter ever I was able to see the text of Joel in a new way. Through painting a response to a part of the passage I had to think about it and what I thought it meant. This allowed me to further interpret the literature and find its meaning. Taking the time to dive into a piece of literature and dig out its meaning is something I do not do often enough. I usually just read a text and take it at its face value. Though you can gain something from this it is not near as much as if you were to tear it apart and find the ideas and meanings behind the words and phrases. I would like to try to do this more often because there is so much more that I can learn from what I read if I just take the time to go a little deeper in my reading.
I also learned through reading the poem The Traveling Onion that it is important to look for the meanings hidden behind phrases. The first few times I read this poem I thought it was simply what it seemed; a poem about an onion. As I thought about it, however, I realized that it most likely has a deeper meaning. I read it a few more times trying to find out what it could mean. As one student began describing what he thought the poem meant I began to see the poem come to life. After I heard what he said about the poem I had a totally different perspective on it. I no longer thought it was a silly poem about a vegetable but I saw it as an amazing piece of literature with a very deep and real meaning.

2-10 Joel

On Monday in class we were able to discuss reading Scripture as literature. I really enjoyed this discussion and learning what can come out of reading Scripture as literature. I also enjoyed reading the book of Joel in a circle. In doing this I was able to better visualize what the author was saying. The author of this book uses a lot of imagery and descriptions that make it easy to picture what is being described.
An example of such imagery and description is where it says “So rejoice, O sons of Zion, and be glad in the Lord your God; for He has given you the early rain for your vindication and He has poured down for you the rain, the early and latter rain as before. The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with the new wine and oil.” When I read this I could picture the rain falling down on the ground bringing life and color to it. And the land growing and producing an abundance of grain with grain growing all around and a new sense of life and renewal all around.
I also really enjoyed the part that said “And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord with be delivered; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.” The author of Joel not only describes the physical beauty and restoration the Lord brings but he also describes the spiritual beauty the Lord brings. The joy and redemption He gives to His people and their reward for being faithful.
All in all, I really found the descriptive words in this book most interesting. How the author painted such a vivid picture of the destruction and ruin of this land and then goes into its restoration and the beauty it brings forth.

2-8 Book of Joel

This book paints an incredible picture of what the end times will be like. Though no one knows exactly what will take place in the last days there are many prophesies of horrible destruction. Many people have left God out of their lives and want nothing to do with Him. For those it will be a time of punishment but for the faithful and the followers of Christ it will be our reward. Many people say the day of the Lord's return is coming soon and they have been saying it for years. I love to read about how God takes the destruction and ruin caused by sin and human nature and turns it into beauty for His people. All throughout the Bible it talks about the love and compassion of God and even in the books of prophesy about the end times God is crying out for His people to turn to Him that the may not be destroyed. Reading books like Joel always makes me more aware of how important it is that we are always praying for loved ones and always doing the work of God that we may win others to the Lord and further His kingdom. The Lord's return is a topic of much concern for some. The picture painted can seem scary and alarming to those who don’t have a close relationship with the Lord. But it is a joy to know that through living a life of love for my Creator I need not worry that I don't know when it will occur. I simply must keep my eye on Christ and His salvation and the prize of living in eternity with Him. Singing praises to my God.

2-3 The Things They Carried

1) Lieutenant Cook very distracted by an unrealistic love.
2) Knowingly seeking after love that he knows won’t be returned.
3) For Cook it’s as if the pain of realizing over and over that his fantasies will never happen was not as painful as the reality of the destruction, war, and loneliness he was surrounded by it reality.
4) Held on to a false idea.
5) Many hold on to things we know will never happen or that are very unlikely as a way to keep us from reality.
6) Cook seems to use the notes and thoughts of Martha as distraction from the gloom and depression of the war surrounding him.
7) Cook allowed his obsession interfere with his duties and soon found himself feeling very guilty.
8) Took the death of one of group members to awaken Cook to the fact that he was neglecting his job.
9) The writer put great emphasis on the extra things that everyone carried. Saying that they all had objects that allowed them to escape the reality of their situation. It’s as though the war was too much for all of them. They all wanted to escape to a different place.
10) The writer went in great detail on the weight of everything they carried. Even their equipment. This further emphasized how big and burdensome the load they were carrying was. He mentions not only physical things they carry put memories and worries as well.
11) It seems as though none of the men are fully present. They all seem to be disconnected mentally. Physically they are there daily performing the same routine. But mentally they all try to escape. If they don’t they would just be overcome by fear.
12) There seemed to be so much oppression and burden carried by these men. They were scared to death but they were even more scared to admit their fear. When the issue of death came up they simply laughed it off. Made jokes to avoid the seriousness and the realization of their fear.
13) I think all of us are like this in many ways. We are so weighed down by all our memories and fears. To afraid to let them go or express them. Like the sad lifeless soldiers I believe we too become lifeless and disconnected to a certain extent when we don’t allow ourselves to express and show our fears. Everyone has fears and to cover them up just makes the burden so much deeper for the person.

A Grief Observed

While reading A Grief Observed I admired the honesty that Lewis expressed. He was experiencing a horrible loss and through dealing with this he asks many questions and states many things that seem to question the intentions of God. When he said “Why should the separation (if nothing else) which so agonizes the lover who is left behind be painless to the lover who departs?” this stood out to me (27). It would be incredibly hard to think about someone you loved so dearly and deeply being happy and not affected by the separation, but at the same time he wouldn’t want to wish the pain and agony he was experiencing on his wife. Dealing with the death of a spouse is a tremendous tragedy and as Lewis deals with this he questions his faith and makes it stronger. As Lewis goes on and on about an idea he comes back the next day and tries to approach it from a different angle that wouldn’t offend Christians. I think it’s important, however, that we do read this and that we ask questions, like these, ourselves. If we simply go on without questioning or ever fully examining our faith then how deep is it? The things that mean the most to us are the things we should study with the most scrutiny. To make sure it’s real. To be sure of is truthfulness and its meaning in our lives.

Tuscana

I really enjoyed discussing literature while in a social setting. It seemed more relevant to our lives and the conversations we had consisted of things from our lives. I liked being able to hear what types of genres the people in my group like to read and the importance of reading to them. We each had different stories of how literature has impacted our lives and how it has played into who we are now. We discussed the stories we have read that we really liked and shared what we learned from them.
Before this session I had only really been interested in mystery stories but now I am curious to read other genres and different authors. I was able to see the types of authors the people in my group liked and now I can try some of those novels. Through discussing literature I was able to get to know a lot more about Jane, Kassi, and Breanna.

1-25

A lot of the literature we’ve been reading for class so far has had something to do with love. Many of the ideas or stories about love that we’ve read seem crazy or absurd but they are all different ways in which people try to express their love. Love is such a powerful thing and I think it can sometimes be scary or intimidating for us because it is so powerful and has such an impact on us. These stories and ideas we’ve heard about happen all the time, all around us and we’ve probably even experienced some of these reactions or some close to it. I think people just get so overwhelmed sometimes with this emotion of love. They know that they don’t want to lose it so oftentimes people will do some very crazy and desperate things in order to make it stay. The people in their lives and outsiders may look at them and ask why they do what they do and the person doing these things might even ask why. But they don’t have an answer. Love has the ability to overcome people and make them do some crazy things. There is so much destruction and darkness in this world and when someone encounters something that makes them happy and good they don’t want to let it go. They will usually fight to keep it even if it means doing some crazy and destructive things. I don’t believe everyone will go as far as some of the people in these stories go but I think we are all desperate to hold on. And some are more willing to fight for what they want; not always in a good way however.

"What Do We Talk About When We Talk About Love?"

While reading this story I found myself in shock and disbelief many times. As I read what these characters thought of love and the actions they said demonstrated this love. After reading this I realized how easy it is for people to distort and confuse the meaning and feeling of love. I believe the only way to know true love and to be able to love someone completely is to first become familiar with and know the love of our Father in heaven. God displayed His love for His people in many ways throughout the Bible and also now in the present. The only way to experience all the fullness and joy that comes from loving someone and being loved is to understand, from the source of life and love, how to properly and completely display this love. When people do not know this love it becomes very easy and very likely that they will distort it just as the characters in this story have done.
When it says in the story “Terri said the man she lived with before she lived with Mel loved her so much he tried to kill her” I was blown away at first to think that the actions she described could be considered love (901). As I read on, however, I realized that in one way or another all people who don’t know the love of the Father distort love in one absurd way or another. The best way to express love is not through words but through actions. If someone is so caught up in the world and all it says then they may think that love is all about them. Their partner should do everything they possibly can to make them happy. We see, however, in the Bible as Christ lived to serve others and serve God that love is about pleasing the other person and serving them.

Literary profile

My earliest literary memories are those of my mother reading Bible stories to me and my sisters each night from a children’s Bible. I also remember that Snot Stew was the first chapter book I ever read in elementary school and I was very proud of myself for finishing it because I didn’t like reading at all then. In middle school I began enjoying reading and I read a lot of the Nancy Drew books. I love reading mystery stories and Mary Higgins Clark is one of my favorite authors. Right now I have been interested in works that better inform and explain the different aspects of Christianity and faith. I enjoy learning this and obtaining a better knowledge of who my God is and what He does for His people. I would have to say the most significant literary text I have read is God’s Will. I read it many years ago and it was one of the first Christian fiction books that I had read. The plot of the story was very interesting and I learned a lot of life lessons from it. Literature is important because it is a great way for others to share their ideas and opinions with many people. It is also a great way for readers to develop and strengthen their own ideas. They can read the ideas and works of other authors and from that build upon or critique their own ideas. For some literature doesn’t matter because they don’t have the desire to practice critical thinking or develop their knowledge. I believe it is very important to always be learning something new and to continually seek more knowledge. Reading different types of literature is the best and most interesting way to do this. You not only get to learn new things but you are often able to see how these ideas have impacted others and how significant they can be.