Roxana's ENL 3 Blog

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Writer's Choice

"There are no facts, only interpretations."-Friedrich Nietzsche

This specific quote reminds me of Natalie Goldberg's One Plus One Equals a Mercedes-Benz. My interpretation of this chapter was that it discussed looking at things in different ways, having new perspectives on things, which is exactly what I think the quote is getting across. The quote is also saying that there is no such thing as correct facts because it's the way we look at things, what we want to be correct. The example Goldberg used was that 1+1 could equal anything, it didn't have to be 2. The quote is just a more straightforward way of saying what Goldberg was trying to get across in this chapter. Goldberg uses examples to get across her point, while this quote makes it clearer what it's meaning is. The way we choose to look at things is what we end up believing, we don't just go based of off facts, sometimes it's our religion or our superstitions as well.

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One Plus One Equals a Mercedes-Benz

In Writing Down the Bones’ chapter “One Plus One Equals a Mercedes-Benz”, Natalie Goldberg discusses how there are always different points of views to situations.Her way of looking at writing allows for the writing to create room for analysis. She points out that by looking at things in a different way, different than you’re accustomed to, allows us to see many things that we didn’t know where there. Goldberg also discusses how it is okay to turn off our logical sense when trying to take in some information. “Turn off your logical brain that says 1+1=2. Open up your mind to the possibility that 1+1 can equal 48, a Mercedes-Benz, an apple pie, a blue horse.” (pg 82) If we keep thinking about something logically and based merely on facts, it can sometimes intervene with all the other possibilities that may be presented. Interpreting things in our own way allows us to think deeper rather than just looking at what’s on surface. If we simply stay with what is taught to us we never really get the opportunity to learn something new. When we are used to looking at things in one way, we don’t fully get the chance to think about it deeper. Instead of thinking deeper, we continue to go off of what we’ve learned in the past. This leaves with more dull writing and no new creative ideas. Goldberg is encouraging her students to write in different perspectives, for it allows for more creativity. Many authors do this to create a better plot to their story, to make it more engaging. Some authors even go further than changing perspectives for every one of their books. Authors sometimes change the point of view in the same book, by changing narrators. Goldberg also advises to not go just off of facts but to leave room for the readers’ interpretations. When saying this, she uses the example of describe oneself. She says that instead of saying facts about who you are, say how you see yourself. "Tell me who you really are: ‘I am the frost on the window, the cry of a young wolf, the thin blade of grass’." (pg 82) Through this quote, Goldberg is saying that it may even be a good piece of writing when the perspective is being shown through your interpretation of yourself.

In the end of this chapter she goes to say how the reason why we turn to good books, is because we are so intrigued by the many ideas of how we can be. “That’s why we have to go back again and again to books- good books, that is. And read again and again the visions of who we are, how we can be.” (pg 82) If every book we read consisted of the same concept and plot, we wouldn’t be so enthusiastic in reading other books because they’d all be about the same idea. Instead, we look forward to reading books that are from different genres because they vary in concept. When introduced to new ideas, we are able to change our own perspective on things. We are able to gain a new perspective because we become aware that there are other possibilities. Good writing consists of allowing the reader like they are a part of the story. The reader must be so engaged that they feel as if they are actually seeing the events that are happening. Although detecting good writing is easy, being able to create it is a harder process. Not everyone has the ability to see things through different perspectives or apply their knowledge into their own writing.

Goldberg, Natalie. Writing Down the Bones. 1986. Shambhala. page 82

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Analysis Review

C1: Idea not yet grounded in evidence or analysis

Analysis 1:  The quote “I swear consent to your demand, on your solemn oath to leave Europe…” implies that Victor and the creature have come to an agreement in order for the creature to leave Victor alone and Victor to give him the love he didn’t show him from the beginning. The good and evil are represented by Victor (good) and the creature (evil), while guilt and pleasure is shown through their intentions.

Revision: “I swear consent to your demand, on your solemn oath to leave Europe…” demonstrates Victor’s willingness to do anything to have the creature leave him alone. From the rest of that conversation, the creature reveals his intentions from having killed Victor’s younger brother, wanting to be shown affection. This conversation represents how Victor can be seen as “good” and the creature as “evil.” Because the creature did not ask but instead demanded, the way he let Victor know what he wanted, showed the anger he had. This is so because if Victor failed to do so, he would make sure he wasn’t happy. The way in which Victor is seen as good throughout this conversation is how he was willing to do anything to save his family.

Explanation: In order to make my evidence seem clearer, I added more of my thoughts about this specific section in the text. By giving more explanation of my thoughts, I feel like I got my point across of how Victor represented good and how the creature represented evil.

G1: Concept, claim or idea that is too broad, general, and nonspecific to be proven.

Analysis 3: A chairman of the review board stated, “I do think the public has a right to know, but that is a legislative decision.” I agree with the idea that the names should be known but not until they have been held responsible for their behavior because otherwise they face threats and the danger of the public wanting to take matter into their own hands.

Revision: Because the chairman declared, “I do think the public has a right to know, but that is a legislative decision,” I believe that although the public has a right to know, it doesn’t mean that they should know the name. The only thing they should be aware of is the events that are happening.

Explanation: By changing my opinion on the subject, I feel like the claim can be looked at in different ways because the audience can be able to look at it and form their own opinion about it or agree with mine.

[werocksanaaa-blog]

Literary Adaptation

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is the story of Victor Frankenstein and his creation. Victor comes from a happy and loving family. At an early age, Victor developed a love for science but he was interested in older theories. His father showed his disapproval by scolding him. When Victor went off to college, he was able to freely express his admiration for science without having his father to discourage him. Instead, Victor has the freedom to continue with his admiration for various scientific theories, including old ones. Victor’s obsession with science continued to grow as he was in college. He soon discovered he could create life and when he did, he decided to do just that. When he created a living creature, he was at first disgusted with his creation. He rejected the creature. After several hours of thinking, Victor decided it was only fair to give the creature a chance. He even named him Frank, after himself. He began to treat “Frank” as if he was his own child. Victor educated Frank by teaching him morals and home schooling him. Victor and Frank became the best of friends. After several months went by, he decided to introduce him to his family. Their reaction was like Victor’s was at first but they decided to give him a chance as well. After spending more time with him, they soon realized that he was just like them. Elizabeth said that after her and Victor were married, she would also treat Frank as if he were her son. Clerval, however, did not feel the same about Frank. He thought he had lost his best friend to a disgusting thing. During their stay with Victor’s family, his father decided that it was time for Victor and Elizabeth to finally be united in matrimony. Victor chose Frank to be his best man and this infuriated Clerval. Clerval thought out a plan to kill Frank before the wedding but his plan backfired and he ended up killing his best friend. Clerval was later tried for Victor’s murder and was executed. Elizabeth blamed Frank for the murder of Victor because if it weren’t for him and Clerval trying to kill him, Victor would’ve still been alive and they would have been happily married.  She felt that Frank had just came into their lives to destroy them. Frank decided to leave and not come back again. Even though he left, Frank still had contact with the rest of the family but Elizabeth no longer wanted anything to do with him. Months after his departure, Frank decided to commit suicide.

“Because as a child I was taught to give people a second chance and allow them to improve themselves, I will give you an opportunity to show me you are not just an ugly creature. I will take you under my wing and teach you the morals you need to fit into this society. If I put some effort into helping you out, you have to put your own effort and try to learn these morals.”

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Analysis 4

Space Traders describes Gleason Golightly both as “smart and truly conservative” and that “as a person of color, at this crucial session would neutralize any possible critics in the media.” The evidence shows that Gleason is a smart guy and will do the right thing to save his country. However, when he says “but my duty stops short..” contradicts this notion. This evidence instead implies that Gleason is hesitant about going out to try and convince the others that they should sacrifice themselves to save their country but he then is offered to have his family saved as well as other hundred families of his choosing. The offer given to him was later not even acknowledged because the "space traders" wanted every black person. This means that someone “can only speak for themselves” and it encourages the reader to consider that betrayal can come at the least expected time.

[werocksanaaa-blog]

Writer's Choice

"Analysis does not transform consciousness."-Jiddu Krishnamurti I found his quote to relate to our topics in class because we are talking about analysis. When analyzing, we don't necessarily have to think harder about the situation or idea, we write about our thoughts that come up while reading that excerpt or book. To me, personally, when I analyze, I tend to do just this. I don't try to think past other things, instead I go off what is in front of me. This may be why sometimes I have trouble doing so, but it's the process that helps me to continue building on ideas. When I would have trouble writing analysis papers, one of my English teachers told me that I should just pick a couple of quotes from the novel and find a way to apply them. In the end the whole story is in relation. He would also tell me that when analyzing the quotes to think about the image that crossed my mind as I was reading it and I've been doing that ever since.

[werocksanaaa-blog]

Analysis 3

The article I chose to write about was titled New Challenges to Secrecy That Protects Police Files. The article begins by discussing the series of events that have occurred due to police brutality. It also states that the NYPD has a law to protect the identity of the police offers who commit such crimes, while other states feel that the public has a right to know who they can and cannot feel safe around. The articles main argument is that the names of police officers should be announced after a circumstance like this has happened but in the end it is up to those in charge. I agree that the police officers’ names should be known to the public for the public’s own safety. 

A chairman of the review board stated, “I do think the public has a right to know, but that is a legislative decision.”

I agree with the idea that the names should be known but not until they have been held responsible for their behavior because otherwise they face threats and the danger of the public wanting to take matter into their own hands.

The idea that police officers’ names should be known to the public is a decision that should be handled by the law enforcement officials themselves. By hiding the officers’ identities they are in a way encouraging other officers to engage in the same behaviors. There have been many instances in which the officers’ names were known days after the incidents. Because many states have allowed the names to be released, the officers are not fully being protected from their actions. For example, the officer who murdered Garner, Daniel Pantaleo, had his name kept anonymous for about a month. This only angered the public more. The officer who shot Brown, Darren Wilson, had his name kept a secret for several months. By keeping their name a secret it makes it okay for them to continue to engage in such behavior,they feel protected. so they’ll continue to do it. By allowing the public to know the name they are being alert of who they can or cannot feel safe around. The officers’ duties are to make us feel protected and not to make us feel threatened.

Goodman, J. David, and Al Baker. "New Challenges to Secrecy That Protects Police Files."The New York Times 4 Feb. 2015. Web.

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Notes 4: Reflection of Analysis

One thing I've always struggled with in writing was going into fuller depth when analyzing a text. I have trouble putting my thoughts together and when I'm able to, I have a hard time finding evidence to support my reasoning or sometimes I don't even try to include it. In my analysis when I talked about good v. evil, I didn't fully explain the sections of the novel in which each character portrayed good or evil. Instead, I gave an example of how being put in the other character's shoes might influence our view of the other. I could have said that after the creature was rejected he felt he was doing good in committing acts of vengeance against Victor and then providing the section of the novel when he was describing to Victor what he said to his younger brother before murdering him. I could have also given quotes from the novel when Victor felt like he was at fault for the murder of his brother (to describe how he felt he was evil) and when Victor got rid of the creature's mate after he decided he wasn't going to give in to his demands (to describe how he felt he was doing good).

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Analysis 2

Text: Frankenstein

  Binary: Guilt v. Pleasure

I see pleasure when the creature is asking for a mate to show him affection and guilt in the fact that Victor almost gave in because he felt guilty for the death of his brother and Justine.

  Complication: The creature is using Victor’s guilt to convince him into giving into his own pleasure. The creature asks Victor to create a mate for him in exchange for him to leave Victor and his family alone for good. Victor almost gave in because he felt guilty for his brother’s death after the creature murdered him in seek of revenge towards Victor.

  Evidence:

“ ‘You must create a female for me, with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies for my being. This you alone can do; and I demand it of you as a right which you must refuse.’ ” (Volume II, Ch IX)

This quote implies that the creature is being manipulative. He’s using Victor as a way to fulfill his own pleasure. He wants someone to love him, he wants to receive the affection he’s been seeking out in people.

This quote also implies that the creature’s pleasure fulfillment is a lot stronger than the guilt he felt from murdering Victor’s brother.

  “ ‘You swear,’ I said, ‘ to be harmless; but have you not already shewn a degree of malice that should reasonably make me distrust you? May not even this be a feint that will increase your triumph by affording a wider scope for your revenge?’ “ (Volume II, Ch IX)

This quote implies that aside from feeling hatred towards the creature, Victor wants to fulfill his wishes of being loved. He feels this way because he feels guilty for causing so much pain in him by refusing him since the very beginning.

This quote also implies that Victor will use the creation in order to keep the creature from causing any more harm to any more of his family members.

  Claim: In this section of the novel, both Victor and the creature can be seen as the victim and the villain. From looking at things in Victor’s perspective he seems as the victim and the creature as the villain by being manipulative. By looking at the situation in the creature’s perspective he appears to be the victim and Victor the villain because from the start Victor treated the creature poorly leading him to seek affection.

Analytical Paragraph: When the creature says, “ ‘ you must create a female for me, with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies...’ “ he is using guilt to convince Victor to fulfill his pleasure. He is being manipulative, not only by using his brother’s murder but also by using the way he has acted and been treated because Victor refused him. At the same time he is feeling pleasure in seeing Victor in such a difficult position. This quote illustrates the creature as both the villain and the victim. He could be seen as the villain because he’s being manipulative and he could be seen as the victim because he hasn't received any type of affection since his creation.

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Notes 3

Character: Prospero

Brief Summary: Prospero is the main character in the play. Years before the events occurring in the play, Prospero was the Duke of Milan but was outrun by his brother and others. He took his daughter, Miranda, with him to an island. Throughout the whole play he tries to seek vengance.

Sparknotes Excerpt: Sparknotes section, Analysis of Major Characters states that Prospero seems to be an enigmatic protagonist because he does not make it clear whether he wants to forgive his enemies orpunish them for what they did to him. His speeches also make it very hard for him to be liked by the other characters. His final speech, in which he expresses forgiveness to his enemies and love for Miranda, changes the perspective of his character.

Comparison: The Sparknotes analysis of Prospero is similar to what I thought of him. Although I don’t find it justifiable that he tried to seek vengance against his own brother even though he had done a terrible thing. My opinion about Prospero didn’t change. Throughout the whole play I saw him as the unlikeable character. He used his daughter as a prop towards Ferdinand.

[martinezbel-blog]

Blue Lipstick and a Cigarette Hanging Out Your Mouth

Unfortunately, more than often we find ourselves bored or irritated with ourselves. Everything we do or say is neither captivating nor intelligent. It is almost as if our individuality has reached a standstill, and sometimes even a downfall….

[kuljinderkaur-blog-blog]

Sometimes we get so embedded in our perspective of life that we start seeing everything as being boring. We feel unmotivated when we only look at life from one angle. In order for you to become a creative and motivated writer, you need to have an open mind. Trying new things helps us see the world in an entirely new perspective. 

[batthemlasheslovelymanda-blog]

I completely loved this excerpt and agree with you when you say that the persona you take on can influence your writing. It motivates you to think a different way and gives you a different form of confidence to branch out of your comfort zone and just start writing. 

[werocksanaaa-blog]

I agree that sometimes we get bored and it's because we're so used to the same routines, we don't allow ourselves to try new things and explore. New ideas come from new experiences, which is why many young authors are encouraged to go out and explore new things to expand their imagination and give them another perspective on things. This allows them to be able to write in different points of view.

[davidxma-blog]

For my editorial material, I decided to use Appendix D: 2. The Edinburgh Magazine. This review mentions people’s desire for adventure and outrageous improbability, resulting in their fascination with the book. However, Shelley was able to incorporate realistic aspects into this wild fantasy by...

[werocksanaaa-blog]

I think that when Shelley decided to add realistic details to her story, she was trying to make it so that it indeed could be realistic. She could have wanted people to in some sense believe that her story could have been a realistic event. Like somebody said in class, maybe she was warning people of what science could be capable of. In her attempt to have people believe this, she also  made her story relatable by adding events that could happen.

[tayleirobinson]

The editorial material I chose to read was the piece by John Croker from the Quarterly Review (January 1818). In this piece, the majority of the writing was of the summary of the book. After the summary, the first words from the author, pretty much, were "horrible and disgusting absurdity". This...

[werocksanaaa-blog]

I agree with you on that just because Shelley wrote the story it doesn't mean that she herself is mad. On one of the articles I did read that some of the material from the story somewhat reflected facts about her husband. It is believed that Victor may be in a way a character for her husband.

[werocksanaaa-blog]

Analysis 1: 3-4 on 1

Text-” Frankenstein”

Quote: “I swear consent to your demand, on your solemn oath to leave Europe…” (Volume II, Ch IX)

Mini-summary of immediate context: Victor is convinced by the creature that if he creates a mate for him, he will leave and no longer try to contact Victor or try to get vengeance towards him.

Mini-summary of broader context: The creature has already killed Victor’s brother as a way to get revenge against Victor for having treated him with disgust. The creature was after someone to show him otherwise when he came across Victor’s younger brother and showed him no mercy.

Focal word/phrase: “your demand”

2 Binaries: guilt v. pleasure; good v. evil

2 implications of quotation:

the quote implies that Victor is giving into the creature’s demands

it also implies that the creature will finally get what he’s wanted for a long time, the love of somebody

2 implications of focal word/phrase:

“your demand” implies as though the creature has become Victor’s master

it also implies that Victor has become a vulnerable person as he gives into the creature’s demands

Reference to another moment: “You have destroyed the work which you began; what is it that you intend?”(Volume III, Ch III)-Victor has decided not to give into the creature’s demands, but instead challenge him.

  Analytical Paragraph:

The quote “I swear consent to your demand, on your solemn oath to leave Europe…” implies that Victor and the creature have come to an agreement in order for the creature to leave Victor alone and Victor to give him the love he didn’t show him from the beginning. The good and evil are represented by Victor(good) and the creature(evil), while guilt and pleasure is shown through their intentions. Victor’s intentions(guilt) are being used to get rid of the creature so he no longer does any more damage to his family and the creature’s intentions(pleasure) are so that he finally gets the love he’s wanted from the start.

  Reflection:

While thinking about which binaries were presented in the quote, I put myself in their place and thought about what my feelings would’ve been throughout the conversations relating to the context behind the quote.

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Notes 2-Revised

The article I felt related most to Frankenstein was [Percy] Shelley and Frankenstein. I felt that it related the most because throughout the article, Percy Shelley’s life is being described and some of his life facts correlate in some way with Victor Frankenstein’s. For example, Percy Shelley was brought up with someone named Elizabeth, just like the name of Victor’s cousin, and he too had an urge to learn about “the secrets of heaven and earth” just as Victor did.  Victor was very much enthusiastic in learning about natural philosophy. It’s as if she was writing a biography about her husband with a fictional twist to it. 

In some way it seems as if Mary Shelley tried to write about her husband in discretion. I believe this to be a bit true because the article states that according to some entries in Mary’s Journal she worked on the novel whenever he was out of the house. This may be why it was extremely believable to the public that Percy Shelley had written the novel instead of his wife.

[werocksanaaa-blog]

The chapter “ One Plus One Equals a Mercedes-Benz” from Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones discusses the idea that people should be open to understanding a situation and looking at ideas in a different perspective than that which they are accustomed to. The writer goes on to say that...

[werocksanaaa-blog]

Notes 2-Revised

The article I felt related most to Frankenstein was [Percy] Shelley and Frankenstein. I felt that it related the most because throughout the article, Percy Shelley's life is being described and some of his life facts correlate in some way with Victor Frankenstein's. For example, Percy Shelley was brought up with someone named Elizabeth, just like the name of Victor's cousin, and he too had an urge to learn about "the secrets of heaven and earth" just as Victor did.  Victor was very much enthusiastic in learning about natural philosophy. It's as if she was writing a biography about her husband with a fictional twist to it. 

In some way it seems as if Mary Shelley tried to write about her husband in discretion. I believe this to be a bit true because the article states that according to some entries in Mary's Journal she worked on the novel whenever he was out of the house. This may be why it was extremely believable to the public that Percy Shelley had written the novel instead of his wife.