"The Story of An Hour" lit response

Markeia Scruggs
September 29, 2009
2 page lit response

“The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin is a story expressing a woman’s hurt and sorrow toward the supposed death of her husband. The news takes her by surprise and causes her to become deeply depressed and mute. The story expresses in detail the effects of death on her life. Kate Chopin uses extremely descriptive diction and figurative language to depict her pain and sorrow.
When Mrs. Mallard first hears of her husband’s death, she is surprised and stunned. The passage states, “She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms. When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her.” The use of words such as paralyzed inability to accept its significance, sudden, wild abandonment, and storm of grief gives the story a stronger meaning. She appeals to pathos in an attempt to give the situation all of its credibility.
Kate Chopin also uses figurative language to appeal to the pathos. “There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. Into this she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.” Chopin writes. She gave an identity to Mrs. Mallard’s exhaustion to heighten the intensity of her pain. Her diction used to bring her exhaustion to life gives the reader a feeling of exhaustion as well. She does this to again intensify the meaning of her exhaustion.
The tone of the story changes as Mrs. Mallard finds out that her husband, Brently Mallard, is in fact alive. The story states, “Some on was opening the front door with a latchkey. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella. He had been far from the scene of the accident, and did not even know there had been one. He stood amazed at Josephine’s piercing cry; at Richards’ quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife.” The use of such strong diction appeals to the pathos. The reader feels a sense of relief and happiness because Brently Mallard is back home. The adjectives amplify the intensity of the moment and help to appeal to pathos and create imagery.
The story “The Story of An Hour” is an intense story composed of intense diction and figurative language. The uses of such literary elements combine to create imagery and appeal to pathos. The story’s intensity is that much better with the use of these items.

Aren't I a Woman lit response

Markeia Scruggs
September 28, 2009
2 page lit response
In “Aren’t I a Woman”, Sojourner Truth responds to the colt of true womanhood. She uses strong diction and appeals to ethos in order to prove her claim. By doing so, she completely demeans the whole point of the colt of true womanhood. Truth defines a “woman” according to her standards, and her beliefs. The two different forms of her speech have two different meanings because of the different diction.
Truth states, “But what’s all this here talking about? That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud puddles or gives me any best place, and aren’t I a woman?” Sojourner Truth makes it known what men do for “women” only according to the colt of true womanhood. She appeals to ethos by stating that men don’t do those things for her and asking if she’s a woman. Her use of words help to reinforce that claim of her being a woman and an intelligent woman at that, but the following quote has a different meaning. The text states, “Dat man ober dar say dat womin needs to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to hab de best place everywhar. Nobody eber helps me into carriages, or ober mud puddles, or fibs me any best place!” Though both quotes have the same general and external meaning, this quote makes a different point than the other. This quote’s diction makes the reader sense Truth’s inferiority to white woman and men.
“I have plowed, and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me and aren’t I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man, and bear the lash as well and aren’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children and seen them almost all sold off into slavery, and when I cried out with a mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard and aren’t I a woman?” the text states. She is saying that she’s just as strong as a man, but man is still of higher authority. She is strong enough to endure the greatest of pains, but she’s still inferior to man.
Though both speeches had the same general claim, they didn’t have the same objective. The first speech represents her intelligence and stance on the colt of true womanhood. The second speech appeals to ethos in order to make the reader feel as though Truth is inferior to men and white women. It completely debases the whole point of the speech while still proving the initial claim of the speech.

"The Wiz" essay

Markeia Scruggs
September 22, 2009
“The Wiz” Essay
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the definition of family is a group of persons of common ancestry, but Dorthy’s family thought it to be much more than just a group of related people. They valued family and through a series of events, Dorthy came to value and understand the notion of family.
Dorthy first doesn’t understand how lucky she is to have such a loving and reliable family, but after she is sent to Oz, she begins to understand the notion of family. “I don’t want these shoes, I wanna go home!” Dorthy cries. “I wish I was home.” This is the first event that makes Dorthy really realize that she needs her family. Because she is sent away from her home, she yearns for the wonderful family that awaits for her at home. Dorthy’s extreme need for shelter, family and security is shown through these quotes.
After Dorthy finally realizes that she has such a wonderful family that cares for her dearly, she starts her journey to see the Wizard. On her way, she meets a scarecrow and helps him. Dorthy states, “ I thought that maybe we could get you a brain.” Because she comes from such a loving family, the kindness and generosity instilled in her by them allows her to help the scarecrow and her other two companions.
By helping the scarecrow, the lion and the tin man, they become her temporary family. Even though she misses her own family, she is able to be a “leader” for her three companions. Through her meny obstacles, Dorthy is able to understand the notion of family and even become a family with her friends.

Desiree's Baby

Markeia Scruggs
September 17, 2009
2 page lit response
“Desiree’s Baby”, written by Kate Chopin, is a story of how love can bond together anyone. The story is set back in the era of slavery and has a tone of love and compassion. Many forms of diction and figurative language are used to support the claim that love can beat all odds. This claim is heavily supported by the text.
“In time Madame Valmonde abandoned every speculation by the one that Desiree had been sent to her by a beneficent Providence to be the child of her affection, seeing that she was without child of the flesh.” states the text. This quote sets the overall purpose of the text, because she is unable to have children herself, she will adopt. The text also states, “That was the way all the Aubignys fell in love, as if struck by a pistol shot.” This quote uses strong diction to produce a tone of strong love and affection. Desiree loved the child so dearly and it is supported by this quote, “This was what made the gentle Desiree so happy, for she loved him desperately. When he frowned she trembled, but loved him. When he smiled, she asked no greater blessing of God. But Armand’s dark, handsome face had not often been disfigured by frowns since the day he fell in love with her.” The use of the word love is used to appeal to pathos to make the reader feel the love and want to achieve such love. This quote makes Desiree’s love for her child seem tangible to an extent.
A hint of racial distinction appears within the text many times. The text states, “One of La Blanche’s little quadroon boys…She tried to speak to the little quadroon boy…Out in the still fields the negroes were picking cotton.” The use of the word quadroon refers to the indication of racial distinction between peoples. The child is referred to as a quadroon, meaning that he is in fact a person of color. At this time, this is a bad thing. The text explains, “Armand,” she called to him, in a voice which must have stabbed him, if he was human. But he did not notice, “Armand,” she said again. Then she rose and tottered towards him. “Armand” she panted once more, clutching his arm, “Look at our child.” What does it mean? Tell me.” In this quote, she is obviously surprised by the fact that her child is black. She knows of nothing to do because this situation is crazy. The use of such bold words creates an image for the reader.
Finally the text states, “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.” Even though she loves him dearly, she still is ashamed of his race. She is also ashamed to tell him and others of his race. The choice of putting the words together creates wonderful imagery for the reader.
“Desiree’s Baby” is a story of love and how it can beat the odds. Even though her child was different, her love for him changed nothing. With the intelligent use of figurative language and diction, a picture is painted in the minds of the readers.

Spontaneous Me lit response

Markeia Scruggs
September 16, 2009
2 page lit response
When first receiving “Spontaneous Me”, “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” and “Facing West from California’s Shores”, I was expecting to read interesting poems. To my surprise, they are extremely difficult poems to understand. Very good diction and figurative language was used in these poems in order to appeal to pathos.
In “Spontaneous Me”, a lot of imagery is used. For example, “The loving day, the mounting sun, the friend I am happy with, the arm of my friend hanging idly over my shoulder, the hillside whiten’d with blossoms of the mountain ash, the same lat in autumn, the hues of red, yellow, drab, purple, and light and dark green” states the poem. The diction used in this quote give a sense of nature in its purest state. The diction also sets a tone of calmness and serenity. It makes the reader feel like an aesthete, or lover of nature. The quote appeals to pathos to make the reader feel the way the author does.
“Spontaneous Me” also has a tone of love and security, which is set by this quote, “Love-thoughts, love-juice, love-odor, love-yielding, love-climbers, and the climbing sap, arms and hands of love, lips of love, phallic thumb of love, breasts of love, bellies press’d and glued together with love, earth of chaste love, life that is only life after love, the body of my love, the body of the woman I love, the body of the man, the body of the earth.” This quote uses strong diction to express love of many things.
In “Facing West from California’s Shores”, the poem states, “From Asia, from the north, from the God, the sage, and the hero, from the south, from the flowery peninsulas and the spice islands, long having wander’d since, round the earth having wander’d, now I face home again, very pleas’d and joyous” This quote sets a tone of respite and relief. This quote creates an image of the long journey to find home. It appeals to pathos by giving the reader a sense of relief.
In “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”, it is stated, “Flood-tide below me! I see you face to face! Clouds of the west sun there half an hour high I see you also face to face. Crowds of men and women attired in usual costumes, how curious you are to me.” The author sounds confused and appeals to pathos by making the reader feel the same way. The diction creates an image of business men and women attired in business clothing.
All of the poems use extraordinary word choices to enlighten the reader on the wonderful things in life, such as nature, love and home. Figurative language was used to do the same, and imagery brought the entire project together.

Phillis Wheatley lit response

Markeia Scruggs
September 15, 2009
2 page lit response
Phillis Wheatley, an African American poet, lived an interesting life. Her life and accomplishments is a story of irony. “In an age in which even few white women were given an education, Wheatley was taught to read and write, and in a short time began to read Latin writers.” the text states. Education for a black girl is judged as wrong during this time in history. The passage states, “Her literary gifts, intelligence, and piety were a striking example to her English and American admirers of the triumph of the human spirit over the circumstances of birth.” This is extremely ironic because putting a woman on a pedestal is rare, but putting a black woman above that is ever more extreme. Because she was stuck within a time period of inequality and racism, her works are valued even more today. Because she broke through the racial and gender barriers, she is deemed as a powerful and talented woman.
Wheatley shows sarcasm when she states, “Some view our sable race with scornful eye. Their color is a diabolic dye.” She puts herself in the place of the whites when she says this because she shows us how they view black people. She uses sarcasm to ease the pain, but it’s obviously there, hidden within the text. Wheatley sarcastically tells how it’s basically a hopeless to have black skin in America. She appeals to pathos in this quote. She does it by giving the reader the feeling of how sad and unfortunate it is to be a black person in such a situation. The text also states, “ Twas mercy brought me from my pagan land, taught my benighted soul to understand that there’s a God, that there’s a Savior too.” In this quote, Wheatley uses strong diction and appeals to pathos in order to make the reader feel the pain and misery she has felt once before, but to also give the reader the sense of security that she has found through God.
In the last poem, Wheatley explains how she has found joy and happiness through achieving freedom. The text says, “Hail, happy day, when, smiling like the morn, fair freedom rose New England to adorn…” Through this quote in particular, she uses similes and extravagant diction to paint a picture of her feelings toward her new found freedom. They are better explained in this quote, “Elate with hope her race no longer mourns, each soul expands, each grateful bosom burns, while in thing had with pleasure we behold…” She is so overwhelmed with happiness and her feelings are transmitted to the reader through pathos. She uses pathos to brighten up the lives of her readers.
Phillis Wheatley, an extremely important contributor to American literature, was a strong black woman who beat the odds. Through her poems she expressed the struggles of her life as a slave and servant. Because she received the opportunity of an education, she became a wonderful poet. She used great diction, figurative language and word choice to express her feelings. She also appealed to pathos to transmit her feelings right into the reader.

Thomas Jefferson/Declaration of Independence lit response

Markeia Scruggs
September 14, 2009 2 page lit response
Upon receiving “From The Autobiography of Thomas Jefferson: From The Declaration of Independence”, I expected it to be extremely boring and uninteresting. Well it was extremely boring, but I received a lot of information from it. From reading this passage, I better understand the Declaration of Independence and the need for independence. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson makes the claim that the American colonies want, need and deserve independence. Thomas Jefferson uses incredible diction and figurative language to get his point across.
“When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” the passage states. Thomas Jefferson’s attempt to prove his claim that the American colonies need independence was successful by writing these words. He makes it clear that the colonies have grown up and matured, in a sense, to the point in which they’re ready to walk on their own. Jefferson’s use of such strong words as political bands creates both a sense of what they feel and an image of America’s ties to England. The claim was heavily supported by this quote.
The American colonies’ hunger for independence is supported by this quote. The text states, “He has dissolved representatives houses repeatedly and continually for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.” Thomas Jefferson’s use of figurative language when saying “He has dissolved representatives houses…” gives the feeling that the British has destroyed their government. It also creates an image for the reader because he uses such words. Jefferson once again proves his claim that the American colonies want and need freedom from Britain.
Thomas Jefferson’s claim that America deserves independence from England is supported when he describes how England has taken over. The passage states, “He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy unworthy the head of a civilized nation.” Thomas Jefferson’s use of strong words such as plundered, ravaged, burnt and destroyed gave an image of just how important freedom is. His diction sets a tone of anger and vengeance toward the English. This quote obviously proves that the colonies thirsted for freedo.
By using clever figurative language and incredible diction, Thomas Jefferson clearly proved his claim that the American colonies need, want and deserve freedom from English rule. By using such tactics, he was able to prove his point and clearly state his position on the subject. It is clear how and why the American colonies deserved independence.

Huswifery Lit. Response

Markeia Scruggs
September 9, 2009
2 pg. Lit Response
Huswifery, which is defined as the business of a housewife, was written by Edward Taylor to tell of his faith in God. The title automatically attempts to give away the meaning of the poem, but not exactly. Taylor used insignificant objects, which is what Puritans did to show their unyielding respect for God, to explain how he wants God to use him. These objects are swift flyers, a spool, and a reel, whose importance is explained using extraordinary metaphors. All these objects are important to the completion of the Spinning Wheel, both spiritually and physically.
Because flyers are used to control the actions of the spinning wheel, Taylor asks for swift flyers to control his Affections and actions. The text states, “Make mine Affections thy Swift Flyers neate.” He puts heavy emphasis on the words affections and swift flyers by capitalizing them. By doing that he creates an image of neat swift flyers in relation to his actions being neat also. Taylor is pleading for God to guide him mentally and spiritually in order to make the right decisions.
Taylor writes, “And make my Soule thy holy Spoole to bee.” He asks God to make his soul be a channel through which God’s word is interpreted consistently. Taylor puts emphasis on spool, again by using capitalization. A spool’s contribution to a spinning wheel is that it twists the yarn into consistent thickness. This is important for the spinning wheel both spiritually and physically.
The reel is what brings everything together. It is used in the spinning wheel to gather the finished thread. Taylor uses the reel to keep God’s word, thread, together. He writes, “My Conversation make to be thy Reele.” This reel is the most important part of the spinning wheel because it brings and keeps everything together.
Through what we would now call an ornate poem, but was viewed as plain, Edward Taylor explains how he wants God to transform him into a spinning wheel spiritually. Because of Puritanism, he uses simple a simple spinning wheel, but transforms it into a very meaningful metaphor of God’s glory. He creates the picture of himself as a spiritual spinning wheel by using insignificant words that have extremely significant purposes. By combining all the minute parts, he produces a spiritual spinning wheel.

Anne Bradstreet 2page lit response

Markeia Scruggs
September 3, 2009
2 page lit. response
“To My Dear and Loving Husband” is written by Anne Bradstreet to her husband. Before actually reading the poem, I didn’t expect such great usage of words and implausible imagery. She expresses her feelings toward her husband with no restraint. She obviously loves him and justifies it by writing this poem. She completely gives her all in this poem and by doing so she appeals to pathos. She uses imagery and diction to appeal to pathos and is extremely successful upon doing so.
“My love is such that rivers cannot quench…” the poem states. Bradstreet really speaks to me when she says this because her diction gives such strong emphasis on her love for her husband. Her diction also tells me how her love is so bountiful that nothing can match it and that it is never ending. She appeals to pathos by making me want to find love as she has. She also creates an image in the mind of the reader of rivers that can’t withstand her love.
Anne Bradstreet makes me feel as though love is the most important thing in the world by stating, “I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold or all the riches that the East doth hold.” By using the words mines of gold and riches, she makes her love for her husband sound greater than the best things on Earth. She could’ve used the word money, but the quote wouldn’t have has as big of an effect on the reader if she had. She basically says that she’ll take him over anything offered to her to replace him, and that she loves him more than wealth.
“If ever two were one, then surely we…” Bradstreet states. Anne Bradstreet says that her husband and she are a unity that can’t be broken. She supports that within the poem. Her diction in this quote isn’t quite as easy to understand as others, but it basically tells me that she and her husband are an unbreakable union. By stating this, Bradstreet creates an even stronger foundation to support her claim that her love for her husband is immeasurable.
“To My Dear and Loving Husband” is a strong, passionate poem which obviously appeals to pathos. In it Bradstreet uses creative buy strong word choices to get her point across. By doing so she makes her readers feel her feelings toward her husband and toward love itself. Bradstreet did a wonderful job in transferring her thoughts and feelings to the reader.

"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"

Markeia Scruggs
September 2, 2009
2 page Lit. Response
Upon reading “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, it was made obvious that Jonathan Edwards was an extremely strong willed man who wasn’t afraid to share his opinion. Because he was such a strongly opinionated man, he used great diction and created vivid imagery for the reader. His entire work appeals to pathos because of his strong diction.
“That they were always exposed to destruction; as one that stands or walks in slippery places is always exposed to fall.” the passage states. By using the words slippery places, Edwards creates an image of someone falling due to a bad situation. His choice of using the word destruction gives the quote an even stronger meaning. It makes the outcome of the situation seem ten times worse. Edwards states, “God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, buy will let them go; and then, at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction;” His diction in this quote gives the sense of no forgiveness, even though forgiveness was promised by God. As the reader, I became angry because Edwards basically says that if you’re in a bad situation it will fail and God won’t help you. This is a huge appeal to pathos because One can make the argument that sometimes people make mistakes, and they should be forgiven for them. Edwards makes the claim that forgiveness is unattainable in a slippery situation, which was supported by the previous quotes.
Why do we think we have the power to do what God already has the power to do is the question that comes to mind when reading this quote. “We find it easy to tread on and crush a worm that we see crawling on the earth; so it is easy for us to cut or single a slender thread that any thing hangs by: thus easy is it for God, when he pleases, to cast his enemies down to hell. What are we, trembles. And before whom the rocks are thrown down?” the passage states. Jonathan Edwards used irony in this quote to express how we think we can obtain the power that God has over us. Edwards used great diction in this quote by using the words tread on and crush, which gave the impression that we think we have the power to destroy things. He also creates an image of a small, helpless creature being crushed by a large, dominant human with great power.
Edwards gave strong opinions of how he views God. He appealed to pathos by using many different examples. He also gave great diction and word choice in his work. He strongly expressed his opinions in “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”.