Journal 12: "Young Goodman Brown"

Journal #12 - “Young Goodman Brown”

1. “Young Goodman Brown” is an allegory (symbolic narrative).  What do the following represent?

Young Goodman Brown – An innocent man who turned from good to   bad after the visuals he sees and the loss of his faith. He tries to resist and hold back, but he can’t help it. Brown symbolizes you represents an average person or sin.

            Faith – Goodman Brown’s faith in the world/ faith in others

           

The Elderly Traveller/Fellow-Traveller – He represents the devil or the serpent in the garden in the story of Adam and Eve/ temptation. He tells Young Goodman Brown about other people’s travels down this road.

           

Goody Cloyse – Represents corruption, hypocrisy. Young Goodman Brown looked up to her.

The Ceremony – Parallel to baptism or confirmation Relationships with the devil, people’s sinful nature

The Pink Ribbon – Visual faith is gone/ losing faith

Young Goodman Brown’s Journey – Everyone turns toward the devil at some point in their life. See beneath the surface of people.

2. Theme: Evil

    Message: Through the description of the setting described by the author, you are able to predict the evil things that are going on and the place that Young Goodman Brown was at

    Elements used to establish: Setting

Quotes:

“It was now deep dusk in the forest and deepest in that part of it where these two were journeying.”

“He staggered against the rock, and felt it chill and damp; while a hanging twig, that had been all on fire, besprinkled his cheek with the coldest dew.”

“The four blazing pines threw up a loftier flame, and obscurely discovered shapes and visages of horror on the smoke wreaths above the impious assembly. At the same moment the fire on the rock shot redly forth and formed a glowing arch above its base, where now appeared a figure.”

                        

Journal 11: Selection from Walden

                  

Journal 11 - Selections from Walden   

Write a summary of the following selections and identify a direct quote that you feel best expresses its main idea.

“Where I Lived and What I Lived For” (232)

            This  story is focused on a man who lives in the woods for two years. He believes that the best way to live life is to live simple and with only the essentials. Essentials including water, shelter, food, and clothing. He had access to water because he lived next to a pond, had shelter from a shed he built, food from things he grew, and money from the goods he sold. He did not have a lot of clothes and whatever he had was simple, and that was all he needed to live his life.

Quote: “To drive life into a corner and reduce it to it’s lowest terms.”

“Sounds” (234)

           

            This paragraph describes how the auther took in nature in his everyday life for entertainment. He listens to the sounds of the day and the sounds of nature and takes them all in. He thinks that instead of involving yourself in society you should involve yourself in the sconces of nature. He finds the scenes of nature amusing and doesn’t need anything else to amuse him. 

Quote: “I had this advantage, at least, in my mode of life, over those who were obliged to look abroad for amusement, to society and the theater, that my life itself was become my amusement and never ceased to be novel.”

“Brute Neighbors” (235)

It shows that ant’s lives are filled with hardship and war, just like humans. The wars are just as violent and ferousious as human war and often similar to the battles of the revolution. This short story relates the animal kingdom to mankind and other glorious warriors.

            Quote: “Looking farther, I was surprised to find that the chips were covered wit hsuch combatants, that it was not a duellum, but a bellum, a war between two races of ants, the red always pitted against the black, and requently two red ones to one black. (235)”

“The Pond in Winter” (237)

What is life all about? The author finds out by going through nature and observing life, discovering the simplicity of it. The fishermen are a good example because they live a simple, non-artificial life. They know that nature still thrives, even in the winter. They know this because they are in touch with nature.

Quote: “But there was a dawning Nature, in whom all creatures live, looking in at my broad windows with serene and satisfied face, and no question on her lips.”

“Spring” (238)

With the beginning of spring, everything starts to change and renew itself. Life is good, and not even death can take it’s tool. All regret should be let fo and forgiven. Fishing can be resumed. He learns this knowledge from an old man who is very wise, and this impresses the him. He ends with the idea of spring because, like spring, he has been re-born as well. He decides he needs to move on with his life and do different things, like nature has seemed to move on after the winter. He doesn’t want to be trapped doing one thing with his life.

Quote: “As every season seems best to us in its turn, so the coming in of spring is like the creation of Cosmos out of Chaos and the realization of the Golden Age.” 

Journal 10: Othello's Insight

Often at the end of a play, Shakespeare’s tragic heroes often have a moment of insight.  What is Othello’s insight?  Look closely at Othello’s last speech before answering this question.

I believe that Othello’s insight at the end of the play was that he had transformed into an outsider. After many tragic events, such as Iago’s betrayal and rumors that Desdemona is having an affair, Othello was drawn to jealousy and revenge. Othello believed that he loved Desdemona too well, not wisely. Othello knows that his past actions do not reflect his true character. He is ashamed by what he has become and the actions he has committed. He does not want to be remembered by his bad choices of jealousy and revenge, but rather his strong bravery in his job.