Final Blog Post

My top three favorite Blog Posts

3

http://lwithforce.blogspot.com/2011/09/homer-analyzed-or-interpreted.html
In this post i talk about my discovery of the idea that Homer can be Analyzed but not interpruted. It opened my mid and remined me that everybody comprehends a reading differentley than the other.

2

http://lwithforce.blogspot.com/2011/10/tragedy.html

I talk about who I thought was the tragic hero and why and it was interesting to see who fellow classmates picked as their tragic hero. Each person interpretation of Antigone was different.  

http://lwithforce.blogspot.com/2011/11/open-post.html

1

In this blog post I talk about Dante's version of Hell and how his version of Satan was different from the cliche that I am used to. Satan is punsihed rather than reigning over Hell. This was an amazing idea that i had not realized before.

I liked #3 a lot because it opened my mind. It pointed out a different way of thinking that Homer and his readings can be analyzed but not interpreted and made me realize that many other readings can be interpreted in a different way by each person. A great thing interpretation is. We see different viewpoints and discover different meanings from each person.

I liked number 2 alot. I was able to write down my thoughts and interpretation of Antigone and also see the thoughts and views of others. Other students had different thoughts and ideas and it was very interesting to hear them on what was my second favorite reading we read this semester. Some considered Antigone to be the classic hero and others Creon. I felt that Creon was the tragic hero but I could not help but  agree with fellow classmates argument that Antigone was the tragic hero.

My favorite blog post of the semester #1. It is not my favorite out of the shear fact that the topic was on The Inferno but because I had a breakthrough in thought and outlook. My vision of Satan had been changed from a Satan that was tortured in Hell but still reigned over the souls of the damned. Dante's Satan is one that is punished just as much if not more than any other soul damned to Hell. Maybe it was just me and the images Ive seen in movies  but Satan was held captive in Hell rather than reigning in Hell in The Inferno and I thought that was an amazing idea that I was unaware for.

I believe that these three posts were my best work of the semester because they were from the three topics I was the most passionate about. i enjoyed our other readings from the semester. i really enjoyed Beowulf, and learning about the different creation myths and their different meanings. The topics from these three blog posts spoke to me the most and I was able to form a connection to them and was sucked in. I think that's important to be passionate and existed on a topic you write about. especially if that topic is for a midterm essay or final essay paper. There may be readings and topics that may not excite us as readers but English 257 has changed the way I look and think about literature. I may not like a reading as much as others but 257 has taught me that there is meaning, worth, and importance in each literary work. It is there and we can find it if we try and put our nightmare's of high school literature behind us.

Many are are often not taught how to read The Iliad or Shakespeare in high school which often makes a bad reputation for literature. My views on Literature Have certainly changed after this class and I have learned to be excited and passionate about readings and English Literature over all. There is meaning and beauty and o much depth in the words in stories that is there for the enjoyment of it's readers.

Even while trying to avoid bias I believe my performance in English 257 has been very good. I have had a few speed bumps throughout the semester but overall i think I have done pretty good. I have spoke up in class on several occasions which is rare for me in other classes but i am learning to be more vocal and less timid or quiet in class. I have learned a lot about literature and about writing as well. I did not do so great on the Mid term paper but its opportunities like that that help us improve and learn.I have learned how to be even more of a critical thinker and that to do often times means to accept the different interpretations and viewpoints of others to be a well balanced thinker.  I have learned more about writing an argument and just how important adding support and evidence to your argument and paper is. I am very grateful that Scott is so willing to work with us on our papers and help prepare us for future college writing which is one of the most important skills of the college student. The small group discussion workshop was  a very valuable lesson that helps students understand the importance of reading material before class and coming prepared. It is true that at times students will learn the most from each other by contributing to discussion rather then only the instructor.

As a writer I need to remember to add evidence and proof to my papers to backup my argument and make sure that my readers are able to connect my arguments with examples from the text. As a thinker I need to remember to look at writings in different ways and viewpoints. By thinking about things from different ideas and viewpoints a reader and writer will be able to learn new things and derive different meanings from anything they read.

I took Theater 101 and English 257 to fulfill a requirement at Boise State for my area 1 of arts. I admit I was a little nervous about a literature class but am so happy I took the risk it was worth it. I am 10 classes away from getting my Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice and  English 257 has further helped me prepare for the upper division Criminal justice classes I am taking. Classes that contain discussions and term papers of 15 pages and lots of writing, citing and including evidence to your arguments. This class has been a huge help for me and am grateful I took it from such a good instructor. Now its time for the awkward part of saying what my final grade should be. I believe I should get an A or at  a high B. I tried my hardest on each assignment and learned a lot form English 257. I missed two days because I had to get my Wisdom teeth out and a Migraine on the 2nd class meeting. This was a class that I never wanted to miss. I love the topics and discussions that came out of this class. I was saddened to learn that I'd miss the 2nd discussion of Dante when i got my Wisdom Teeth out but I guess they wanted to come out then!. I learned a lot from this semester and will take the lessons I learned on readings and writings with me down my road of criminal justice. Thank you for a great semester!!! :)

Open Post Friday December 2nd

Dante paints an extremely detailed and visual image of Hell that the average person may not think of. Dante's Hell is certainly a punitive place as well as dark and violent. I did not realize how much of a task creating an image of Hell similar to Dante's truly is. Some aspects of creating a nine level CWI Hell are easier than others and some are very difficult. Brainstorming the various crimes and punishments of hell were difficult as well as developing characters that a Dante-like figure would meet in that place. Overall creating a Hell as terrible and realistic as the Hell of Dante's The Inferno is no easy task. Maybe it was just my group or the time constraint we had to create our Hell or maybe it was just me. Dante did have a lot of time on his hands while in exile that he used to create his hellish masterpiece.

My groups Hell derived from the norm on many occasions and actually created a "divine comedy" with many aspects but that was OK. We had our laughs but the assignment opened my eyes on the amount of work, time, dedication, and detail that went into the making of The Inferno, Purgatorial, and Paradiso. The Inferno was the "Lord of the Rings" or "Star Wars" of Dante's generation and its still making and leaving its mark on the world today. The Inferno is not only a literary masterpiece but it should serve as a wake up call to whoever reads it. Whether hardcore followers or believers of religion or non believers the message of thinking about ones behaviors and actions on the world should be reexamined. The Inferno shouldn't strike fear of eternal damnation and torture into the world to straighten humans out but make them think about the impacts of their behaviors.

If only it was enough for humans to do good in this world without use of threat of eternal damnation, torture, and misery. I cannot find the words to express the brilliance of Dante's writings. I have not gotten this into or excited about a piece of literature since I read "The Iliad" and the war on Troy. As many, I hope that Dante's Inferno is made into a movie. In fact a trilogy would be in order. a movie for The Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. I'd imagine a few elements would me adapted for the excitement of the silver screen but I hope that they would stay true to the basis of the poem.

Upon reading The Inferno a video game about it caught my eye. Dante's Inferno from the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The game's story stayed true to the poem with few alterations. It was very exciting to see The Inferno visually come to life in the video game. It was the next best thing aside of Dante's visual description in the poem. I would highly recommend any avid gamer with a Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 to pick up this game and watch Dante's The Inferno come to life. It is well worth it. I will be suggesting The Inferno to ny network of friends and family who have not read it yet. I look forward to reading the Purgotorio and Paradiso in greater depth. Dante has been my favorite subject in this class and it would be worth it to explore the other books in the class rather then the other topics we read. That is just me though!

Response Wednseday November 30th The Evolution of Religion

I found both Jake's and David's responses on "what happens to us after Death" to be very interesting. I agreed with David's point that he feels that it does not matter what religion you belong to and an allegiance to only one would not damn a person. Jake's statement:


"You can be the best professing “Christian” you can be and still spend eternity in hell.  Going to church every Sunday, helping the poor, and being a good neighbor will do nothing for you in light of eternity. The Bible says “all our righteousness's are as filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6)  Any good work we can do, or any religion we follow will not be good enough to gain God’s favor.  Man tries to earn his way to heaven through, when all we have to do is trust Christ.  Christ has already paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, and using religion or any other means to try to earn our way to heaven is an insult to God".

This statement has answered the many questions I get about Dante's version of Hell. I find Dante's Inferno to be moving, interesting, and amazing. It is one of the best stories I have read in a long time. I have told almost everybody I know along with anybody Else who would listen about the story of Dante's Inferno. I see the same patterns of questions appearing with each time I explain Dante's Inferno. My brother always asks me how people would be accepted into heaven when the for credentials of Hell and eternal Damnation seems to be so detailed. Dante's Inferno lists the 9 levels of Hell and proscribes the punishments for each sin which appears to be unforgivable. People say that with the list of sins and crimes that result in damnation it would appear as if everybody in the world would be going to hell as everybody has committed one of the 9 crimes listed and more. 

I am then asked what must a person do to get into heaven? What must they do to be absolved of all their sins and escape an eternity of torture, torment, and misery.? Jake's response has got me thinking and it seems that the answer has been provided through the evolution of religion. Our version of Heaven Hell compared to Dante's age of Hell have come to mean different things. The common desire of avoiding Hell has not changed. Jake's philosophy that it doesn't matter what you say, do, or not do the reality is that all people sin and there is nothing man can do to "work off" their negative marks that have been bestowed by sin. Jake explains that if man believes in God, trust in God, and believe in our hearts that we will be forgiven of the sins we've committed.

It seems so much easier to create scenarios and reasons of why people are to be damned but developing up a list of to dos on how to get into heaven is even even harder. Dante's Inferno is certainly an eye opener that makes people think twice about their actions and what happens after they die. Dante's Inferno opens up a lot of questions. I often wonder about how people would be labeled to go to any 1 of the 9 levels of hell. Would a person earn a one way ticket to hell for committing one of the 9 sins once, or must they have participated in a lifetime of that sin.