Final Blog Entry

The fall semester went by so fast. I actually chose a ENG 102 class with a different professor but I changed it after the first class. When I first came to this class and learned it was in a computer lab I was a little confused as everybody else was. When I first heard the theme is supernatural I wasn't sure what to expect from this class.

At the end I enjoyed this class very much that was taught by a very energetic and enthusiastic professor. I also learned that the writing on the blog, give and get feedbacks makes the writing a lot more interesting.

I've learn a lot of new things from this class as well. First of all I never really read and analyze poems that are written in English. Even though I didn't do my best on Goblin Market essay, I learned a lot about symbolisms, denotation and connotation. I always liked literature classes in high school and this class reminded me of those times. For the first time I learned those terms in English and it was very good to learn them. I feel more confident reading and writing now more than prior to this course.

This was the second ENG class I've taken in Laguardia, and I liked the fact that we did a lot of writing during the semester. I never written this much during one class and this course made me enjoy writing a lot. I always liked writing but since I came to New york been busy all the time, I almost forgot that I used to have passion for writing and reading.

I haven't read a book in a long time and since I read Coraline I started to read my other books too. After I read Coraline and watched "Spirited Away" again, I was very inspired and I wanted to read and write whenever I had time. Also after I did the final project for Haruki Murakami's "Super-frog saves Tokyo", I've started to read his other books that I haven't read yet. Currently I am reading his most recent novel "1Q84" and I also purchased his other books, I also got me the original full version of "Diary of Anne Frank". I read it when I was young, but I always wanted to read the original version for adults and I was lucky to find it in my friend's book shelf. My dear friend gave it to me for christmas:)

I've also learn so much from reading my classmate's blog entries. I liked Mark's entry for Goblin Market a lot. His plot summary was very smooth and easy to understand. I also liked he broke down the important symbols without going through every single words. I agreed with him when he put question marks on Lizzie and Laura's relationship as sisterhood, non-sexual friendship or Lesbian. I also thought their relationship could be interpreted in those terms.

Even though there were some misspells but his interpretation of Goblin Market made me think again about the poem.

After taking this course and write "something" every week, I am very inspired again and for me personally that was a priceless experience. For the first time in many years I read the short stories and fictions I wrote long time ago when I was younger, and had so much more passion and energy for life. I think I got some of them back, at least for reading and writing. I am going to read anything that interests me, and write wherever I can put out my feelings and creativity. I'll write my journals again, post new entries on my several blogs that I haven't written in ages, I'll write letters and emails to my friends and family, and write lyrics to make songs.

The course is over, but for me it's a beginning of my personal reading and writing through literature volume 2, 3 and 4.

Final Project

http://harukisuperfrog.blogspot.com/

Here's a link to my final project blog.
Thank you and enjoy!

Entry 4.1. Final Project as of 12/2

I am finished with the blog entries as I planned on my project blog page below.

http://harukisuperfrog.blogspot.com/

I have written most of the parts of the poem and then I realized that if I am going to write a song of it, it'll be better to write them as lyrics which makes more sense if I will make it as a song eventually. I am still in the writing process so I don't know how the outcome will look like, but I am trying my best to be inspired.

Entry 4.0 - Final project as of 11/18

So I created a new blog called "Super-frog Saves Tokyo" so I can put all of my work together separated from this blog.

Here's a link.
http://harukisuperfrog.blogspot.com/

I made three entries so far, first I pasted the original story. I was going to link it to another page but since it's a short story and it's easily readable I thought it'll be better to put the original story up there so people can just click and read without moving to another website.

Second one is a general description of the writer. I am a big fan of the author but since there are people who don't know about him so I wrote a little about him in my own words from what I've known. This second entry is about 80% done.

Third entry is supposed to be a brief information about the book called "after the quake" which is a collection of short stories that includes this Super-frog story I've chosen.I only put the picture so I can start writing the analysis and my interpretation of the story.

Then rest of the time I started to write the poem, and waiting for a bigger and clearer inspiration to come.

Entry 3.5. Coraline - In class essay

As a fan of the animation film “Spirited Away”, it was very interesting to read “Coraline” since they seem very similar in many ways. They are both tales of young heroes with an Eastern and Western point of view. Even though their story line is very similar in a big picture, I found it quite different with some details that make them different from one another. They are both good stories for children and adults of both Eastern and Western world, letting us learn good lessons from both worlds.

One of the most interesting I found was that even though that the details of the stories were different, the symbols were quite universal. It was surprisingly similar and made me want to learn more about universal symbols in literature. When Coraline and Chihiro went to the other world, they both went through a significant pattern. Coraline opened the door and Chihiro walked through the dark tunnel. They could both stop and go back but they actively went to the other world and that’s how their long journey began.

Another symbol was the food. When they went to the other world, at first they refused to eat the food. Chihiro’s parents turned into pigs because they ate without permission. Coraline refused to eat the food in the other world even though she was hungry - maybe something could’ve happened if she did.

In the other worlds, the animals ruled the world and act as humans. In Chihiro’s case, a lot of staff members were animals include the frog who managed the bath house. In Coraline’s story it was the dogs who were the audiences of the human circus. It means the other world is opposite of the real world - it’s out of control and humans don’t have powers as much as they do in the real world.

Also when they were taken to the other world, the evils try to take their identities by taking their names or souls or even eyes. The original title of Spirited away is “Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi”, which means “Sen and Chihiro’s Hide and seek”. In coraline the three kids lost their souls and they were confused about their identities, not even knowing whether they were a girl or a boy.

The biggest similarity is that “Spirited Away” and “Coraline” are tales of two little girls, Chihiro and Coraline. They are typical young girls that doesn’t seem so different from any other girls we see everyday. Chihiro complains about moving to a new town and Coraline wants to wear green gloves to school. They both live modern lives being an only child, but not so spoiled and even mature for their ages.

In the beginning of the story they happened to cross over to a surreal world to save their parents that were taken by creatures that has more powers than any humans do.Yubaba is a witch and a master of the bath house who can control everybody. The Beldam - the other mother is a creature with a black buttoned eyes who created and controls the other world. Luckily they both meet mentors who used to be in the real world as them, Chihiro meets Haku and Coraline meets the black cat who guide them in the new world.

Through their journey they meet someone else other than their parents to save which is Haku and the three children. Coraline and Chihiro find out about them during the task, which shows they both grown up enough feel responsible for other people around them; became more of a hero from a young ordinary girl. At the end of the story they both save their parents and went back to the real life, became stronger and thankful than before. Even though their parents didn’t realize and act like nothing ever happened but the leaves fell on Chihiro father’s car and Coraline’s bloody knee let us know it DID really happen.

Even though the two stories are similar in big pictures, there are a lot of differences due to the cultural differences. When they went to the other world, Chihiro refused to walk through the tunnel, she then try to stop their parents to eat the food from the empty restaurants. Most of the Asian countries are built on Buddhism where they say “good triumphing over the evil”, in Asian language it means more like “encourage the good and punish the bad”. Chihiro’s parents were being punished for eating the food without permission. Coraline on the other hand, went to the other world out of boredom when her mother left her alone. Coraline was an explorer and liked to explore around where Chihiro wanted to be cautious and play safe like the good child supposed to be.

Another difference is that when Chihiro went to the other world, it was much tougher than the real world. She had to get a job and work very hard just to stay in that world to get a chance to save her parents. Her tasks were very physical and she had to make many decisions to go through all of them. She was very honest and hardworking while she worked there and that’s what people in that world and even Yubaba approved her. Here again it shows the virtue of life in Asian culture - being steady and honesty wins at the end.

In Coraline’s case it was a little different because when she went to the other world, everything was better than the real world. Her parents were nice and willing to play with her and the food was so much more delicious than what her real parents made for her. But Coraline didn’t let any of them fool her and she refused to stay with them which was her task she had to go through. There we can see in the Western culture it is important to be independent as an individual and not fall for evil’s candy coated words. She is also very brave and straight forward when she talks to the other mother, where Chihiro would’ve been punished for talk to an older person that way.

Coraline could come back to the real world by tricking the other mother saying her parents are behind the door in the room while she knew they were in the snow globe on the mantle. She was being clever and it was successful which shows the virtue of life in Western culture is not just to be steady and honest.

Entry 3.4 : My Final Project

For my final project, I've decided to create a new blog about a novelist Haruki Murakami. I will do a research on his short stories, pick one or two of them that fits the theme of this course and write a tribute poem for that particular short story.

Then, if I have enough time I will try to make a song out of it. Songwriting, producing and recording it is a time sensitive process so I won't say it's a definite but it's a possibility and I am up for a challenge.

1. What I've done:

I've read two of his Short story books called "After the Quake" and "Blind Woman Sleeping Willow" and chosen a story called "Super-frog Saves Tokyo" from "After the Quake".

2. Steps to get it done:

First I need to open a new blog page, it will be about 3-4 blog entries. Link to the original story so people can read, and a second entry about my thoughts on the author and the book "After the quake". I will also analyze the story I chosen based on the symbols and archetypes I learned during this course, and third one will be the poem I'll write. (Additional 4th entry will be added if I get to write a song for it)

3. Approximate schedule

By 11/16 I'll create a blog page named after the short story, write a first entry link to the original story.

Before the class on 11/18 I'd have started with my poem.

In class on 11/18 I will start writing the second entry about the author and the analysis of the story.

By 11/23 I'll finish the poem and make a third entry.

During the Thanksgiving weekend I will try to write a song and produce music for it, and record it, and mix and master it.

During class on 12/2 I will go over everything I've done and polish them.

Before 12/8 I will make a page on youtube with the song.

Entry 3.3 ideas for Final project

For my final project for this course, I will be doing research on Haruki Murakami and his work.

He is one of the most successful writer in Japan, whose work is published all over the world.

I have been always interested in his novels and short stories. As an aspiring writer I have so much respect for his imagination.

I will pick couple of his short stories that are supernatural -which a lot of his short stories are- and analyze the archetypes and symbolisms, how they connect with each other and how they stand out from his other work. Then I will write a poem that has a same title with one of the short stories. I will be writing a poem out of a short story as a tribute to the original author.

What I'll do is I'll create a new blog page that is linked to this one, it'll be a couple of different blog entries. One will be about the author and the story and the second one containing my poem. I will try to make it rhyme and I might even put a melody and make it a simple song and publish on Youtube if I have enough time for it.

Entry 3.2 - Scenes of Macbeth

The video I chose is the scene of the film "Macbeth" of 1971, directed by Roman Polanski. He directed this film after the loss of his pregnant wife and his close friends by a tragic murder. It was filmed in Northwest Wales of U.K.

This scene I chose is the beginning of the movie where the three witches meet at the deserted place. Three of them with creepy and weird looking faces gather around and one of them draws a circle on the ground. Then they start to dig the ground with their hands. One of them take out a rope that looks like it was used to hang a person, the other one bring a man's hand that was cut in the arm. The last one put them inside the hole they dug, put a knife in the hand and then all of them sprinkle some dry leaves onto it and buried them. When they finished burying the oldest witch take out a small bottle and pour blood on the ground. Three of them put a spell on it and then spitted around them. When the "official" ceremony is done, they discuss about when they are going to meet again, while the youngest one prepares for all of them to leave. It all happened after a night before dawn.

I haven't read Macbeth yet but if I judge from this video, the three witches represents minorities. They don't belong to the society, yet they gather together to put a spell on someone who does for some reason that's not showing in this short clip. The action of burying a hand represents a grudge, and also a plan that they couldn't see the result right away. The sword held in the hand means power that the witches were praying for.

The reason I chose this scene is because it is a very simple scene with no special effects and minimal words. It seems so real and surreal at the same time because of it. It is the beginning of the movie and without any explanation it makes the movie seems very interesting.

A writer with reader phobia: I wonder as i wander: refugypsy vagabond

A writer with reader phobia: I wonder as i wander: refugypsy vagabond: "“...with a vagrant strain in the blood, a natural inquisitiveness about the world beyond their doors.”Arthur Compton-Rickett I need to move..."

ENG102: blof entry 2.2: wanderer

ENG102: blof entry 2.2: wanderer: " After i finished ' The Heroic Myth Self-test ', the result reveals that my main archetype is wanderer. I think this is the mos..."

Blog entry 3.1 : Macbeth

This modern opera version of the Macbeth picture appealed to me the most, because it looks more like a real story than an old tale of Shakespeare's. Everybody else at the royal banquet except Macbeth could not see the ghost and standing behind the shadow, all staring at Macbeth as if he is the mad man.

The ghost of banquo, is also standing at the same side with the rest of the people and looking down at Macbeth. It makes the scene more dramatic than the original scene where the ghost of Banquo was sitting on his chair because the act of seeing the ghost standing on top of the table has more impact visually.

Banquo's ghost represents a guilt. He was only seen by Macbeth because he knew that he was guilty and the typical reaction to being guilty is to see the illusions - as Lady Macbeth was sleepwalking and saw blood on her hands. The people behind represents the society and the social norms where they judge others.

I guess it's more effective setting for the opera. I wouldn't know if they started in a chair like the original story and slowly develped the scene where they put the Macbeth in the front and the rest of the people along with the ghost in the back, but it's definitely dramatic and effective for viewers.

Entry 2.2: Wanderer / Magician

My first archetype is a Wanderer. Out of many images of wanderers this picture appealed to me the most, because it shows a modern day wanderer with a suitcase just like myself. I've been traveling back and forth to Korea and the U.S for past 7 years now. Not just traveling but living in each country, moving internationally for almost every 1 or 2 years. Everytime I move I think I'd never move again, and think I will settle down this time - whether it will be in my country, or in a foreign country living as an alien. Wanderers are known to think of life as an adventure. I think that applies in my situation as well. I guess I was meant to be wandering around my whole life - I can't live in one location for a long time. Ever since I was very young, I always dreamed of going abroad, learn their language and live their culture. Since I was still young, I wasn't allowed to do so but as I got old enough to make my own decision I've been living life like a modern day hippie almost.

I went to a college majoring in something that was being very popular at that time. I studied more than I ever did, preparing myself to a real world. When I was a Junior, the time finally came and I flew to this country all by myself. Ever since then, I've been moving back and forth for 4-5 times internationally. It's been 3 years since I came back to New York last time so it's been the longest time I stay in one city, but I already have 3 cities in my mind to move next - all in three different countries.

I guess I'm not surprised at the result of this archetype test, quite impressed even.

My second archetype is Magician. I like this picture because she seems very independent and tough just like I am, and also the scene she's riding on a bird that's bigger than her seems so surreal. The archetype of magician has a lot to do with concepts such as intuition, creativity, visions, knowledge and confidence. I consider myself to have an extraordinary intuition compare to other people. Since I am into writing music and writing in general, I think creativity is a big part of me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamnaimie/3863766085/

http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/magic/img/Magic001.jpg

Blog Entry 2.1 Goblin Market

Author

Christina Georgina Rossetti was one of the most important female poet of nineteenth century. She was born in London, England December 5th, 1830. She is from a notable family of poets and artists where she inherited her artistic talent from her father Gabriele Rossetti, an Italian poet and a refugee from Naples. "Goblin Market" is one of her most well-known poem which was composed in 1859 and published in 1862.


Plot

It is a tale of two sisters Laura and Lizzie. When they go to the reedy brook to fetch water they hear goblins selling fruits.
They sell all kinds of fruits, all of them ripen, sweet and juicy. They tempt the two young girls to buy their fruits. Clever, strong-minded Lizzie wouldn't even look at them because she knows she shouldn't be tempted by goblins.

While Lizzie covered her eyes and ran back to house, curious Laura decided to linger and see what their fruits were about.
Naive Laura was fooled by the goblins and thought they were not so harmful after all and turned down her guard and went close to them, willing to buy fruits while she had no money. Goblins suggested her to buy with her golden hair.

Trading with a lock of her hair and a drop of tear, she got to taste their fruits that was nothing like she tasted before.
She goes back home where she met Lizzie at the gate, worrying about her for staying too late at night. Laura says it's alright and she'll go back there next day. The next evening when two sisters went to the brook, goblins tempting the girls with the fruits but only Lizzie hear them while Laura couldn't hear a thing.

Day after day, Laura couldn't hear or see the goblins. She was losing hope to taste their fruits again, she was not the
old Laura anymore. Lizzie watching her sister struggles, decided to go get the fruits for her sister. Confronting the goblins,
Lizze told them she wants to buy the fruits to bring it to her sister. Goblins laughed at her, harassed her and abused her.

Brave Lizzie made it back home with the juice from the goblins' fruits all over her face and body, letting Laura to suck them.
After sucking the juice from Lizzie, Laura got her strength back and became the old Laura again.

Many years later and when they both became wives and mothers, Laura would call her children and tell them about the old times and how brave her sister was for her and how strong their sisterhood was.



Symbols

There are a lot of symbols throughout the poem, I pointed out some obvious ones and some other symbols that I thought was interesting.

3 Come buy our orchard fruits
=> temptation, youth and virginity, addiction

56 One hauls a basket,
57 One bears a plate,
58 One lugs a golden dish
59 Of many pounds weight.
=> all of three materials the goblins had shows power, and also those are what they use to put the fruits(virginity)on.
Therefore they could also mean a penis - a body part to show a man's power and reproductive ability.

77 She heard a voice like voice of doves
=> doves are a common symbol of peace, and also it shows how naive and clueless Laura was to think goblins sound like doves when they clearly had faces of evils.

115 But sweet-tooth Laura spoke in haste
=> again, it shows how naive, weak and easy to be fooled she is.

118 I have no copper in my purse,
119 I have no silver either,
=> obviously they mean money but also mean power - with no money she is in a powerless position.

126 She clipp'd a precious golden lock
=> shows that Laura made her decision to lose virginity. Being that she clipped the hair herself not the goblins,
she made her own decision to lose her virginity and go for the temptation.

136 She suck'd until her lips were sore
=> obvious description of sexual action, losing the virginity

141 Lizzie met her at the gate
=> indicates a barrier between two sisters. After tasting the fruit (losing virginity) she is not the old Laura again and they are no longer same (virgins). Meeting at the gate means now they are standing on different sides.

160 I planted daisies there a year ago
=>Lizzie being young, innocent and hopeful.

326 At twilight, halted by the brook
:=>Lizzie goes to see the goblins at twilight.It's a point between night and day she is at a point of being a virgin and lose her virginity.

348 Hugg'd her and kiss'd her:
349 Squeez'd and caress'd her:
350 Stretch'd up their dishes,
=> goblins try to tempt and seduce her by caress her and show their dishes (power)

366 Held out her apron
=> a protection, a barrier between Lizzie and the goblins.

403 Tore her gown and soil'd her stocking,
404 Twitch'd her hair out by the roots,
405 Stamp'd upon her tender feet,
406 Held her hands and squeez'd their fruits
407 Against her mouth to make her eat.
=> description of a forced sexual act, a rape.

409 Like a lily in a flood
=> powerless Lizzie in front of goblins.

430 Lizzie utter'd not a word;
431 Would not open lip from lip
432 Lest they should cram a mouthful in
433 But laugh'd in heart to feel the drip
434 Of juice that syrupp'd all her face,
=> a development of Lizzie's state of mind - first resistance and then giving herself in.

481 Your young life like mine be wasted,
=>regretful Laura looking at Lizzie and feel sorry for her to lose the innocence and pureness for her good.



Archetypes

Laura
- A naive girl who is easy to be seduced
- She could also indicate an addict for sex or drugs, depends on how we think of goblins' fruits.
- Traditional role of a woman who is submissive to a man.

Lizzie
- A Hero
- A mature and clever sister figure and/or a friend.
- A norm, a law that the society should follow
- doing the right thing- A possibility to show that females can be powerful in that society.

Goblins
- Men, Temptations, Seduction, Drugs, Addiction, Power


Conclusion

When I read this poem for the first time, it surprised me in many ways. First, it was the longest poem I've ever read in my life.
It took me several days to read it over and over again until I got an idea of what it was about. It took me hours to finish reading because I'd get distracted or bored in the middle of the reading.

Secondly, it was too violent and sexual for children to read. The author first claimed this was not written for children, but later she said it was for children and she went on writing more poems for children.

Third of all, even though it was violent, I was impressed at the author's insight. It is written over 150 years ago but is still relatable and could be interpreted in various ways in this modern society.

In my opinion at the time when the author wrote this poem, women didn't have much rights to the society. The author wanted to write a poem for children and adults especially females to educate them - to show what's right and what's wrong, and the consequences of your decisions - by coming up with two obviously different characters such as Laura and Lizzie, and shows through Lizzie that females too can be a hero.


Web source

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Rossetti

Blog Entry 2.1 Goblin Market

Author

Christina Georgina Rossetti was one of the most important female poet of nineteenth century. She was born in London, England December 5th, 1830. She is from a notable family of poets and artists where she inherited her artistic talent from her father Gabriele Rossetti, an Italian poet and a refugee from Naples. "Goblin Market" is one of her most well-known poem which was composed in 1859 and published in 1862.


Plot

It is a tale of two sisters Laura and Lizzie. When they go to the reedy brook to fetch water they hear goblins selling fruits.
They sell all kinds of fruits, all of them ripen, sweet and juicy. They tempt the two young girls to buy their fruits. Clever, strong-minded Lizzie wouldn't even look at them because she knows she shouldn't be tempted by goblins.

While Lizzie covered her eyes and ran back to house, curious Laura decided to linger and see what their fruits were about.
Naive Laura was fooled by the goblins and thought they were not so harmful after all and turned down her guard and went close to them, willing to buy fruits while she had no money. Goblins suggested her to buy with her golden hair.

Trading with a lock of her hair and a drop of tear, she got to taste their fruits that was nothing like she tasted before.
She goes back home where she met Lizzie at the gate, worrying about her for staying too late at night. Laura says it's alright and she'll go back there next day. The next evening when two sisters went to the brook, goblins tempting the girls with the fruits but only Lizzie hear them while Laura couldn't hear a thing.

Day after day, Laura couldn't hear or see the goblins. She was losing hope to taste their fruits again, she was not the
old Laura anymore. Lizzie watching her sister struggles, decided to go get the fruits for her sister. Confronting the goblins,
Lizze told them she wants to buy the fruits to bring it to her sister. Goblins laughed at her, harassed her and abused her.

Brave Lizzie made it back home with the juice from the goblins' fruits all over her face and body, letting Laura to suck them.
After sucking the juice from Lizzie, Laura got her strength back and became the old Laura again.

Many years later and when they both became wives and mothers, Laura would call her children and tell them about the old times and how brave her sister was for her and how strong their sisterhood was.



Symbols

There are a lot of symbols throughout the poem, I pointed out some obvious ones and some other symbols that I thought was interesting.

3 Come buy our orchard fruits
=> temptation, youth and virginity, addiction

56 One hauls a basket,
57 One bears a plate,
58 One lugs a golden dish
59 Of many pounds weight.
=> all of three materials the goblins had shows power, and also those are what they use to put the fruits(virginity)on.
Therefore they could also mean a penis - a body part to show a man's power and reproductive ability.

77 She heard a voice like voice of doves
=> doves are a common symbol of peace, and also it shows how naive and clueless Laura was to think goblins sound like doves when they clearly had faces of evils.

115 But sweet-tooth Laura spoke in haste
=> again, it shows how naive, weak and easy to be fooled she is.

118 I have no copper in my purse,
119 I have no silver either,
=> obviously they mean money but also mean power - with no money she is in a powerless position.

126 She clipp'd a precious golden lock
=> shows that Laura made her decision to lose virginity. Being that she clipped the hair herself not the goblins,
she made her own decision to lose her virginity and go for the temptation.

136 She suck'd until her lips were sore
=> obvious description of sexual action, losing the virginity

141 Lizzie met her at the gate
=> indicates a barrier between two sisters. After tasting the fruit (losing virginity) she is not the old Laura again and they are no longer same (virgins). Meeting at the gate means now they are standing on different sides.

160 I planted daisies there a year ago
=>Lizzie being young, innocent and hopeful.

326 At twilight, halted by the brook
:=>Lizzie goes to see the goblins at twilight.It's a point between night and day she is at a point of being a virgin and lose her virginity.

348 Hugg'd her and kiss'd her:
349 Squeez'd and caress'd her:
350 Stretch'd up their dishes,
=> goblins try to tempt and seduce her by caress her and show their dishes (power)

366 Held out her apron
=> a protection, a barrier between Lizzie and the goblins.

403 Tore her gown and soil'd her stocking,
404 Twitch'd her hair out by the roots,
405 Stamp'd upon her tender feet,
406 Held her hands and squeez'd their fruits
407 Against her mouth to make her eat.
=> description of a forced sexual act, a rape.

409 Like a lily in a flood
=> powerless Lizzie in front of goblins.

430 Lizzie utter'd not a word;
431 Would not open lip from lip
432 Lest they should cram a mouthful in
433 But laugh'd in heart to feel the drip
434 Of juice that syrupp'd all her face,
=> a development of Lizzie's state of mind - first resistance and then giving herself in.

481 Your young life like mine be wasted,
=>regretful Laura looking at Lizzie and feel sorry for her to lose the innocence and pureness for her good.



Archetypes

Laura
- A naive girl who is easy to be seduced
- She could also indicate an addict for sex or drugs, depends on how we think of goblins' fruits.
- Traditional role of a woman who is submissive to a man.

Lizzie
- A Hero
- A mature and clever sister figure and/or a friend.
- A norm, a law that the society should follow
- doing the right thing- A possibility to show that females can be powerful in that society.

Goblins
- Men, Temptations, Seduction, Drugs, Addiction, Power


Conclusion

When I read this poem for the first time, it surprised me in many ways. First, it was the longest poem I've ever read in my life.
It took me several days to read it over and over again until I got an idea of what it was about. It took me hours to finish reading because I'd get distracted or bored in the middle of the reading.

Secondly, it was too violent and sexual for children to read. The author first claimed this was not written for children, but later she said it was for children and she went on writing more poems for children.

Third of all, even though it was violent, I was impressed at the author's insight. It is written over 150 years ago but is still relatable and could be interpreted in various ways in this modern society.

In my opinion at the time when the author wrote this poem, women didn't have much rights to the society. The author wanted to write a poem for children and adults especially females to educate them - to show what's right and what's wrong, and the consequences of your decisions - by coming up with two obviously different characters such as Laura and Lizzie, and shows through Lizzie that females too can be a hero.


Web source

Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Rossetti

Entry 1.3 Poetry Symbolism (Essay 1) - The Horrors of Sleep by Emily Brontë

The Horrors of Sleep

by Emily Brontë

Sleep brings no joy to me.

Rememberance never dies.

My soul is given to mystery,

And lives in sighs.

Sleep brings no rest to me;
The shadows of the dead
My wakening eyes may never see
Surround my bed.

Sleep brings no hope to me,
In soundest sleep they come,
And with their doleful imag'ry
Deepen the gloom.

Sleep brings no strength to me,
No power renewed to brave;
I only sail a wilder sea,
A darker wave.

Sleep brings no friend to me
to soothe and aid to bear;
They all gaze on, how scornfully,
And I despair.

Sleep brings no wish to fret
My harrassed heart beneath;
My only wish is to forget
In endless sleep of death.

This poem I chose is by an English novelist and poet Emily Bronte (Jul 30, 1818 – Dec 19, 1848). She is best known for her novel "Wuthering Heights". She was the second eldest of the Bronte sisters between Charlotte and Anne. It's formed in six paragraphs, where in each paragraphs she talks about her struggle of sleeping. Generally sleeping problems are related to depression and from my observation she wrote this poem with a depressed state of mind. I will break it down to each paragraph with my interpretation.

Sleep brings no joy to me.
Rememberance never dies.
My soul is given to mystery,
And lives in sighs.

In the first paragraph, she is talking about a "joy" sleep supposed to give her. A joy of sleeping usually comes from sexual experience. In that sense "joy" and "rememberance" are related and it gives reader an idea that the reason why she is devastated ; feeling her soul is given to mystery(god, or evil) and living in sighs(troubles, sadness, emotions) are coming from losing the lover that used to bring her joy in sleeping.

Sleep brings no rest to me;
The shadows of the dead
My wakening eyes may never see
Surround my bed.

In this paragraph she is saying sleep doesn't give her any rest. Rest is something fundamental when it comes to sleep and she is not getting it from sleep. Shadows of the dead (dead spirits, souls, ghosts) are surrounding her bed(herself, her room, familiar places) but she may never see them with her wakening eyes(herself being alive, separated from the shadows of the dead). This could also lead to a guess that her lover from the first paragraph (the reason of her depression) maybe dead now.

Sleep brings no hope to me,
In soundest sleep they come,
And with their doleful imag'ry
Deepen the gloom.

From this paragraph we get to know that she "does" sleep sound until they(shadows of the dead) come and make her depressed. These shadows (dead souls) come with their doleful imag'ry (sorrowful faces, sad memories) it makes her more depressed and make it uneasy to sleep and get hope that she could get from sleeping. She may think it's doleful only because she knows them; shadows of the dead maybe her lover, friends or family members that she lost.

Sleep brings no strength to me,
No power renewed to brave;
I only sail a wilder sea,
A darker wave.

This fourth paragraph is related to the second paragraph where she wasn't getting any "rest" from sleeping. Strength is coming from sleeping well and resting. It's a source where human being is getting their energy and power from. Without getting strength and rest from sleep, she is struggling more and more. She sails a wilder sea(having nightmares, sleeping problems). She is clearly suffering from depression; sleeping problem is the first signs of severe depression. Having trouble sleeping and sailing a wilder sea through darker wave; her depression is getting more serious.

Sleep brings no friend to me
to soothe and aid to bear;
They all gaze on, how scornfully,
And I despair.

Here she mentions about getting friend who supposed to soothe aid her to bear; meaning she needs help getting over her struggles and depression. One thing clear is that she knows exactly what she needs from sleeping, or getting over her problems. She knows she needs friend(somebody who'll help her) to soothe and aid (medication, love and support) but instead of helping her and support her they gaze on scornfully and let her struggles.

Sleep brings no wish to fret
My harassed heart beneath;
My only wish is to forget
In endless sleep of death.

In this last paragraph, the word "Sleep" is more powerful than the previous paragraphs. The first "sleep" means resting, and her life that's supposed be, which brings to no wish (hope, positive emotions). Her heart is harassed by the shadows of the dead, her friends who gaze scornfully, and her lost lover who used to bring her joy. She hopes to forget about all the dark memories from sleep endlessly. Interestingly enough, sleep was the one that doesn't bring her anything and made her depressed; she's trying to find the answer, a solution for her problem from sleep. She wishes(think about) suicide, or she could also hoping to get old with her troubles until she gets to the endless sleep and forget about the harsh memories and rough life.

Entry 1.2: Internet Research

A Ghost is considered as a spirit of a human being appears in visible form after the death. The existence of ghost is always controversial between different various points of views and also one's religion, culture or belief in general. I am a Catholic who was taught it is sinful to try to contact or control the dead spirits; at the same time I'm an Asian where the culture is generally built on Buddhism and we have different visions of souls, spirits and ghosts.

Until I decided to post this entry of research about ghosts, I completely forgot about the group name which happen to be Ghostface. Maybe I meant to be this group or I was meant to have ghost in my new apartment. I decided to do a research of ghost and haunted houses when a strange woman's laughing sound from somewhere inside my room woke me up last saturday night. I usually don't get scared by ghosts but this one really bothered me because it woke me up when I only had 4 hours to sleep. This was going to be a problem if it was to happen again.

There is this wonderful community called Ghost Research Society http://www.ghostresearch.org/ where a group of people take reports of the haunted houses, they take action by visiting the site and actively investigate. They also analyze spirit photographs. After my long hours of research in a hope of scaring this strange lady soul from my apartment, this was the only organization that real people are serious about this kind of unexplained issue.

http://www.ghostresearch.org/ghostpics/ghost3.html

(Picture) Girl on the gravestone - A real ghost picture take by GRS member

There are MORE PHOTOS on http://www.ghostresearch.org/ghostpics but I am warning you, click ONLY IF YOU CAN HANDLE THEM.

Western ghosts includes like Vampires and Zombies are all scary but to me Asian ghosts are the scariest thing ever. I thought it was only me because I'm from that culture and I was educated to be afraid of them, but this New York Times article is stressing that Asian ghost stories are the best. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/08/movies/08RAFF.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5062&en=85cb99708b1fb724&ex=1055649600

I was trying to tell the ghost to leave me alone in a nice way, but I wasn't sure whether I had to tell her in English or in my language. Do people get to understand all the universal languages when the die? Can they read minds already without me having to say it? So many questions but I guess we'll never have the clear answer.

Have some questions? you can also visit http://www.ghoststudy.com/ they are very interactive with the visitors and easy to approach.

About Me

My full name is Jungah Ahn but ever since I came to New York I started to be called by June. At first it was Jun which is the first three words of my real name but people like to spell it "June" with an "e" so now I'm June.

I'm a Music Recording Technology major. I'm interning at Island Def Jam music group of Universal Music, and a part-time songwriter.

I have several 2 other personal blogs where I post 2-3 times a month. I have passion in writing, not just songs but writing in general. I have a lot of interest in things that are supernatural, I also had a great time taking a psychology class researching about dreams. Originally my ENG 102 class was on monday with a different professor which was a traditional writing class. When I learned I will be available on Thursdays I switched to a this section and I think I'll like this one more than what I chose first.