Close Readings

We recently received an assignment to blog about our opinion of a close reading. First off, a close reading, according to Dr. McClennens, is "developing a deep understanding and a precise interpretation of a literary passage that is based first and foremost on the words themselves. But a close reading does not stop there; rather, it embraces larger themes and ideas evoked and/or implied by the passage itself. It is essential that we distinguish between doing a close reading and writing one. Doing a close reading involves a thought process that moves from small details to larger issues. Writing a close reading begins with these larger issues and uses the relevant details as evidence." 

When it comes to close readings, I have a very indifferent opinion on it. I don't like having to pick out just one part of the writing, when there are usually more than one part that is confusing. I don't think when taking apart one sentence you're able to fully tell what the author is saying or wants the readers to think. But to contradict that, I like the idea of being able to view the passage in a more abstract way.

I think it's an interesting way of writing and without practice writing this way, i'll remain optimistic.  

Myself at 18 in 1943 ("Gillian Lynne")

In my English 101 class, we started writing a page each about different scenarios involving Gillian Lynne. Gillian Lynne was a girl, where nowadays we would say she has ADD or ADHD, but back in the early 1900's she was just thought to have some type of learning disorder. She was extremely fidgety and could never sit still, so her parents enrolled her in a dancing school. In todays century we would assume take the easy way out and shove a pill down children's throat to make them concentrate, rather than to listen to what they are trying to tell us. I am writing a narrative of myself living with some type of learning disorder, in 1943.
It's funny how today the day doesn't seem nearly as long and boring as it had last week. I don't feel as out of control and troublesome as usual. I feel like I can control my random outbursts and interruptions. I even volunteer to answer questions and read out loud. My teacher has approached me and told me what a joy I was in class to me, the total opposite of what she thought of me a week ago. Each class seems to be going by faster than the previous. I usually enjoy lunch and being able to talk freely with one another, but It's for once not the highlight of my day. Science and Social are a breeze to me, I even feel like I am understanding and getting the material being presented. Math doesn't seem to as dreadful as usual because I know once that bell goes off, I am free. I am free to do what feels as though is my future- to act. My parents told me I had to get involved with something, something to keep me busy that I would enjoy. I never thought about anything like that before. The theater feels like home to me. It gives me something to look forward to. It gives me a commitment other than school. I love it, I really do. My parents have never been happier to see me smiling and enjoying what I do. My attitudes towards school have completely changed. I know I need to concentrate and do well to keep my grades up to keep acting.  I love my parents for this. For the fact that they noticed this and done what was right. I couldn't have asked for a better outcome.

Twenty First Century, Emerson's view on "The American Scholar"

When looking at "The American Scholar" and the views Emerson has makes me question how much this would change in the twenty first century. Emerson states the idea that "Thinking is the function. Living is the functionary." I found this quote extremely interesting and It made me think of how we are living life in todays society. Knowledge is fed through the way you act upon it and the actions you take against it. I think today we are doing exactly so. There is so much knowledge in our world, were doors are constantly being open to new materials and ideas, that we take it and use it to our best advantages. We are building off one another's ideas and creating our own. We are an interdependent world in the way that we would not be self-sufficient without one another. 


"It is one central fire, which, flaming now out of the lips of Etna, lightens the capes of Sicily; and, now out of the throat of Vesuvius, illuminates the towers and vineyards of Naples. It is one light which beams out of a thousand stars. It is one soul which animates all men." Unlike my previous paragraph, his quote questions me as to if Emerson would be happy with the way we are in this century. Although our own knowledge and ideas are built off one another, how much do we interconnect with one another? Society today is divided into such obvious classes where everyone kind of does their own things. We need each other to a certain extent, but do much now on our own. I don't think Emerson would like the way that is. Rather than ".. one soul that animates all men," it is more so a tree with many branches, branching off to one man.