journal - 31 Job shadowing

I job shadowed at Memorial Health System on the 3G surgical/medical floor.  Let me tell you, I had no idea that I was going to experience all of the things that I experienced while I was job shadowing.  I shadowed an RN named Robbin, and also spent time with her LPN, LaDonna.  Robbin and LaDonna were in charge of seven rooms on their floor, and Robbin had three rooms that she was in charge of herself.  Robbin was working a shift from seven in the morning to seven in the evening, and she worked three shifts a week.  I, however, shadowed her only from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon, plus, I took a lunch break.  The entire time that I shadowed, Robin and I were running around from room to room on her floor. Robin had to take requests from the patients, check how they were doing, fill their medicine, and do so many other things.  They had to do EVERYTHING for the patients.  It was like Robbin was a mom for all seven of her patients.  During that day I saw a lot of things..... When the job shadowing form said that the shadower might come in contact with blood, bodily fluids, and nudity, they definitely were not kidding.  I saw and/or came into contact with all of those things.  I was extremely surprised that I got to witness all of those things.  It seemed that because I was job shadowing, I had like an all access pass to witness anything in the hospital.  I even got to go into the radiology room and look at x-rays that the patients were not even allowed to see yet.  It was a very neat day.  I think that nursing might be a good fit for me.  I can handle any of the things that some people may think are nasty, and thankfully I have had a lot of experience with those thing because of all of the babysitting that I have done.  I also think that I have the mental capacity to keep track of all of the patients and remember who I am supposed to help with what, and so forth.  There are, however, a few things that concern me about the nursing career.  Firstly, there is some math and chemistry abilities that is required for the job.  For example, whenever Robbin was filling a drug for someone's IV, she had to use chemistry and math.  The drugs came in 2 mL containers, and from that she had to extract only .2 mL, and then dilute it with saline solution for four times the amount of drug that she withdrew.  That is the only thing that majorly concerns me, but when you do it all the time, I'm sure you get used to it.  Also, I think I would get bored and run down with nursing, but maybe  I can do it for a few years and then open a clinic in another country, or an orphanage or do something exciting like that.

"If we Must Die" Modernism

If We Must Die

If we must die, let it not be like hogs
Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot,
While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs,
Making their mock at our accursèd lot.
If we must die, O let us nobly die,
So that our precious blood may not be shed
In vain; then even the monsters we defy
Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!
O kinsmen! we must meet the common foe!
Though far outnumbered let us show us brave,
And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow!
What though before us lies the open grave?
Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack,
Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!  
-Claude McKay 

 Werlock, Abby H. P. "modernism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CASS589&SingleRecord=True (accessed May 4, 2012).

journal - 30

http://whitmanarchive.org/published/LG/1891/poems/341

So far, out of all the poems I have read by Walt Whitman, "Life" is my favorite one so far. Life is a poem that pertains to all human beings.

Ever the undiscouraged, resolute, struggling soul of man;

(Have former armies fail'd? then we send fresh armies—and fresh again;)

Ever the grappled mystery of all earth's ages old or new;

Ever the eager eyes, hurrahs, the welcome-clapping hands, the loud applause;

Ever the soul dissatisfied, curious, unconvinced at last;

Struggling to-day the same—battling the same.

In the first stanza, Whitman brings up the souls of everyone and identifies that all of us struggle inwardly and become discouraged at times. Whitman is suggesting that it is a part of our human nature for us to become discouraged. He also asks if former armies have failed. Which, they obviously have. And he says that we continue to send in fresh troops when armies fail. I think this implies that everyone fails, but we have to pick up again and keep moving forward and not get down about ourselves that things aren't working the way we wanted them to.

Then Whitman talks about a mystery of the earth. Some mystery that we all grapple with deep down inside. It is a mystery that society has forever struggled with and continues to. We all have eager eyes searching to see what the truth is and we watch others to see how they react to this topic, to see if they welcome it or not. I think that the mystery Whitman refers to is if God is for real or not.

In the third and final stanza, Whitman again brings up the dissatisfied soul. He remarks that it can be unconvinced, which I believe means unconvinced of God, and it be left unsatisfied. He also says that we all struggle over and over again with this topic.

This is my favorite poem by Walt Whitman so far because it deals with an issue that lies within us all. We all do grapple with the belief in God and how much we value that belief and what we think the consequences will be. That is human nature to struggle with that and to remain dissatisfied if we do not find belief and trust in God. I think this poem is very true of us all, and it is personal to every single person, which is why it is my favorite.

Chanting the Square Deific

In the poem "Chanting the Square Deific", Whitman's self spirituality is portrayed (Whitman). This is done through him telling of his spiritual beliefs. He describes at length his spiritual hierarchy, so to speak (Whitman). Deity can be described as "divine character or nature, especially that of the Supreme Being; divinity" (Deity). Therefore, Whitman's poem is referring to what he believes to be the character and nature of the Supreme Being, or God, and is described in four sects, not three like the Christian Church (Oliver). The four Deifics that Whitman believes in are God, Christ, Satan, and the soul.

In the first stanza, Whitman describes in short what he believes is the nature of God (Whitman). He firstly describes God as Jehovah, which in the Bible is the Old Testament name for God (Whitman) (Jehovah). Whitman says that God also describes himself as Old Braham, Kronos and Saturnius (Whitman). Braham, Kronos and Saturnius are what people believe are a Hindu god, Titan god, and Roman god (Oliver). Whitman also describes God in a harsh way (Whitman). He says that god kills whoever sins (Whitman).

The second stanza tells of Whitman's belief in the second deific, which is the Christ. Whitman says that Christ is the consolator most mild, which would be like a tender comforter (Whitman). Whitman describes Christ as a mightier god than God. Whitman says that Christ takes away all of our sorrow, labor, and suffering. He also says that Christ 's sweet love never dies. Whitman also says that Christ is the promised one advancing (Whitman). This most likely means that Whitman believes Jesus Christ is coming back, as is the Christian belief. It is ironic that Whitman holds Christian beliefs, yet believes in a "quaternity" not a trinity, as Christians do (Oliver).

In the third stanza, Whitman describes his beliefs of Satan (Whitman). In comparison to Jesus, Whitman says that Satan is "aloof, dissatisfying, plotting revolt". Whitman says that Satan is the comrade of criminals and the brother to slaves (Whitman). These things seem to be opposites. It is understandable to call Satan a friend of criminals, that makes sense. But calling him a brother to slaves is indicating that he has a soft heart for the downtrodden (Oliver). Satan is the opposite of everything that God is. So for Whitman to include Satan in his square deific is like neutralizing the deific and balancing it between good and evil (Oliver).

Lastly, Whitman describes the soul, which he describes him as he would describe the holy Holy Spirit (Whitman). Except, the soul that Whitman describes is more broad than the Holy Spirit. He describes it as a general soul (Whitman). The soul is opposite Jesus in the square deific. But, it is also including God, Jesus, and Satan. The soul as Whitman describes it is an all inclusive thing, which includes all spiritual things in all realms (Whitman).

In describing his beliefs in the Father, Son, Satan and the Holy Spirit, Whitman was defining himself. Self is a culmination of who you think you are, how others see you, and your spiritual being within you. Therefore, by defining his beliefs, Whitman was in turn defining himself.

"The Walt Whitman Archive." CHANTING THE SQUARE DEIFIC. (Leaves of Grass [1891-1892]) -. Web. 04 Apr. 2012. .

Oliver, Charles M. "'Chanting the Square Deific'." Critical Companion to Walt Whitman: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCWW082&SingleRecord=True (accessed

April 4, 2012).

"Deity." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 04 Apr. 2012. .

"Jehovah." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 04 Apr. 2012. .

journal - 29

Self can be defined as your soul, your self, and the real you. Soul is your spiritual self. The self is like your personality and self-perception. How you view yourself can sometimes be very different than how others view you, which is what I referred to as the real you. Which is other's perceptions of you and what the reality is of who you are. First and foremost who I am is a Christian. It sounds like an escape route from thinking deeply, but in fact my faith is the biggest factor in defining who I am. Down to my innermost being I am a Christian, and that is something that nobody can take away from me. Because I am a Christian I am able to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and have self control. Without being a Christian, I would not be able to be all of those things. Although I do not always do a great job at being all of those things, I have the capability and strive to be those things. Secondly, I am a Demczak. To me, this is big. This means many things. It means that I need to continue the family name of a good work ethic, strong character, and servant of God. Also, with being a Demczak, I am Alex's little sister. That has defined me and helped make me who I am today. If it weren't for the good example my brother had set and him pressing me to follow in his good example, I would not have as high of character that I do today. Thirdly, I am an athlete. To me, this means that I work hard. I try to let nothing go into my body that is not honoring to God, and therefore what comes out of me is hopefully honoring to God. I compete for the Glory of God. God created me to be able to run, so I run my best. Because I can. Another thing that defines me, is that I am a servant. I serve the Lord first and foremost. But I also am here to serve others. This has been one of my roles growing up, and it brings fulfillment to my heart to serve others. I am a person who requires much self reflection to keep my emotional self at its equilibrium. I am not quiet in my nature, but need quiet time with just me and my God every day to function. This is who I am.

Dickinson poem- partner

In the first stanza of the poem, Emily Dickinson says “The MURMURING of bees has ceased; but murmuring of some posterior, prophetic, has simultaneous come”(Dickinson). When the sound of the buzzing of bees stops, it is in winter. Winter is when the bees go into their nest and do not come out into the brisk air(Dickinson). And even, many bees die, and leave their larvae to be the next generation when they hatch in the spring. In saying that the bees no longer murmur, Emily Dickinson is saying that the end of spring has come. However, she is also saying that there is now a new murmur that has come at the same time that the murmurs of the bees left. This is referring to the beginning of winter(Dickinson).

The second and final stanza says, “The lower metres of the year, when nature’s laugh is done, the Revelations of the book whose Genesis is June” (Dickinson). It is saying that the last months of the year are present and nature is no longer bright and vibrant like in wonderful summertime. When referring to Revelations, that means ending, and when referring to Genesis, she means beginning. She is saying that the beginning of the summer is June, but it has now come to its end. Winter is here (Dickinson).

This poem uses many symbols and round about ways of stating something that could be simply stated in plain words (Dickinson). But the almost cryptic word choice makes this poem intriguing and neat. Also, Dickinson uses many words that relate to the Bible. She uses words like prophetic, Genesis, and Revelation. This is interesting, for Dickinson faced an inward battle between relying on God and relying on herself (Dickinson).

"111. The Murmuring of Bees Has Ceased. Part Two: Nature. Dickinson, Emily. 1924. Complete Poems." 111. “The Murmuring of Bees Has Ceased.” Part Two: Nature. Dickinson, Emily. 1924. Complete Poems. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. .

Emily Dickinson's poem "I have not told my garden yet" is one of the saddest poems one could imagine Emily Dickinson writing, but apparently she did not care because she wrote it anyway. It is about a woman who knows she is going to die, but cannot tell the places she goes about it. The places are personified because Dickinson felt such a strong connection with them, and in her solitary life they meant more to her than most people did.

Emily Dickinson really loved nature, especially her garden, and spent a lot of time in it. She never really left the grounds of her house, so she did not exactly have much of a social life. These places that were important to her became like friends to her. Just as one would have trouble telling a friend about something as terrible as that, Dickinson has trouble with the feeling that her favorite places will some how find out about it.

Even in this really depressing poem, it is clear that Dickinson is not really too hurt about death. She was a very free thinker, and instead of describing death as resting or ceasing to exist, she describes it as walking (Dickinson 16). She felt that death was not just sitting around bored, but was an active state with engaging things to do. What Dickinson thought those things were can only be guessed at, but it was clear that even though her death saddened her, she still had hope about what was coming next.


Dickinson, Emily. "I Have Not Told My Garden Yet, by Emily Dickinson." Poetry Archive. Web. 27 Mar. 2012.

journal - 28

This poem is about a woman who is on her death bed. She is in a quiet room of crying people who are all waiting for her to die. She is finally ready to die, and she is giving away all of her material possessions to the people in the room. While she is giving away her things, what she can leave behind when she dies, a fly flew above her and caught her attention. This interrupts her while she is dying.

The first stanza says "I HEARD a fly buzz when I died; The stillness round my formWas like the stillness in the air Between the heaves of storm" (Dickinson). She is first stating what the main happening of the poem is, which is that she heard a fly buzz when she died. Also, when she refers to the stillness round her form, Ishe could be talking about the people around her bedside as she is dying. She is stating how still and awestruck they are as they await the death of this woman. They have nothing else to do but be silent. When this poem refers to heaves of storm, the author may be refering to bouts of obvious approaching death, which sends the spectators into an uncomfortable panic (Dickinson).

In the second stanza, the author says "The eyes beside had wrung them dry, and breaths were gathering sure for that last onset, when the king Be witnessed in his power" (Dickinson). This is most likely refering to the spectators of death surrounding the bead of the dying. It says that the people watching had been crying so much that they have no tears left (Dickinson). She also mentions their breath, which everyone seemed to be quietly holding in, in preparation for any second being that last second of life of the dying woman. When refering to the king, this is likely refering to God's power, which is revealed in one way through death (Dickinson).


The third stanza says, "I willed my keepsakes, signed away what portion of me I could make assignable,—and then there interposed a fly" (Dickinson). This could be refering her giving away what was left of her material possesions in her last moments of life, and then something so vastly insignificant caught her attention. A fly interrupted.

In the last stanza is "with blue, uncertain, stumbling buzz, between the light and me; and then the windows failed, and then I could not see to see" (Dickinson). The dying woman is trying to look at the fly which caught her attention, but then it is hard for her to see the fly. And then the woman dies, as she is trying to look at the fly. It is interesting how she was filled with a whole room of people who were most likely lamenting on her life, and stating profound and significant things, yet a fly is the last thing the woman notices in her life (Dickinso).



128. “I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died.” Part Four: Time and Eternity. Dickinson, Emily. 1924. Complete Poems." 128. “I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died.” Part Four: Time and Eternity. Dickinson, Emily. 1924. Complete Poems. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. .

journal - 27

Many of Dickinson's poems can be sung to the tune of "Amazing Grace". Emily Dickinson grew up in a Christian family. Her family was very legalistic about Christian laws and held many Puritan beliefs. Throughout most of her writings, the reader can see the struggle between Dickinson's faith that had been ingrained into her thought patterns by her parents, and her questions of her faith. The song "Amazing Grace" has much to do with God and is about the grace of God and how he can completely change one's life. It is about how God can open your eyes and change your life in a beautiful way. I find it interesting that most of Emily Dickinson's poems can be sung to the tune of "Amazing Grace". I find it somewhat ironic actually. I find it ironic because Dickinson started straying from her Christian beliefs and started writing with the transcendentalist writing style. Therefore, it is very interesting that Dickinson's poems can be sung to the tune of a song that supports Christian values and is solely about the amazing grace of God. It shows that Dickinson still held true to her beliefs of Christianity even though she started to sway in her beliefs. She had an underlying belief in God throughout all of her writings. However, she had many doubts in her faith. Emily Dickinson started to question what she believed in and started to question the role that God played in her life. She started to rely more on outside nature as well as her own human nature rather than God or any orthodox. Considering Dickinson's durastic change of relying on God to doubting God, I find it very interesting that she bases the flow of most of her poems off of a song that has everything to do with God and is about trusting in God. Emily Dickinson seems to be a confused woman, however, she knew what she ultimately valued, and that was shown in that most of her writings flow to the tune of "Amazing Grace".

Whitman

Walt Whitman was also a "tweener" when it came to his writing philosophy. Walt Whitman was mostly transcendentalist (Whitman). In his poem "Song of Myself", he emphasised the development and celebration of himself and used nature to show human life and to show human thought as well as self-consciousness about the role of the poet (Whitman). Whitman also wrote about himself in a spiritual role, not just in a literary role (Whitman). "Whitman experimented with longer unstructured lines of prose-poetry and a wider range of subject matter than poets before him", which shows that he was mostly in the transcendentalist and modernism categories of writing. He wrote in free verse, and did not include iambic pentameter in his writings or a certain number syllables or rhyming words. Whitman held Transcendentalist beliefs and thought that "divine truths and principles could be found in ordinary life and ordinary people" (Connors). He wrote about all kinds of ordinary people. He wrote about people that were men and women, young and old, black and white, and wrote about just the regular Joe type of people. Especially in his writings in "Leaves of Grass" Whitman wrote about ordinary people. Whitman wrote for the purpose "to sing the praises of all of America, the ordinary and the extraordinary, so that all its citizens, wealthy and working man alike, could appreciate the power of the written word and celebrate the goodness of their nation" (Connors). Whitman's writing had many ideas of Democracy in it (Connors). His writing was also quite optimistic about the progress of human society (Connors). "Walt early [in life] felt the pride of being an American. Many of his poems concern this theme, of a great expanding nation, young and virile and filled with the joy of life. It was actually an expression of his own feelings towards himself, for he regarded himself as an expression of the nation in which he lived" (Leipold, 58). Whitman's writings were purely American. Unlike all other writers of his time, Whitman was not an old-stock English poet (Oliver). Walt Whitman was indeed an American writer who kept his roots from growing up in the country (Oliver). Whitman held true to his beliefs that he had always held with a high regard to nature, individualism, and democracy (Connors). Whitman was also part of the Free soil party, and thought that slavery should not expand Westward (Connors). When Walt Whitman published "Leaves of Grass", he did not say that he was the author. He only claimed that he wanted it copy writed. In not claiming himself as the author, he was conveying that he believed "Leaves of Grass" could be interpreted into anyone's life (Connors). Ralph Waldo Emerson was a transcendentalist, and he praised Whitman's work (Connors). Emerson saw potential in Whitman's writings and thought that Whitman had a long life of writing ahead of him (Connors). Whitman's writing was somewhat of the transcendentalist era, however, there was something in his writing that Emerson saw that was different than any other writers of their time (Connors). Whitman added his own spark to transcendentalist writing.

Connors, Judith. "Whitman, Walt." In Bloom, Harold, ed. Walt Whitman, Bloom's BioCritiques. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishing, 2002. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= BCWWh02&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 15, 2012).

"Walt Whitman." The American Romantic Movement. Web. 15 Mar. 2012. .

Oliver, Charles M. "Whitman, Walt." Critical Companion to Walt Whitman: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCWW001&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 22, 2012).

Leipold, L. Edmond, Famous American Poets. Minneapolis: T.S. Denison & Co., 1969.

Emily Dickinson

Emily Dickinson was most definitely a "tweener" in her time, because her philosophies were in between the Realism and Modernism period. In one regard, Emily Dickinson's philosophies had much to do with Realism. Emily Dickinson held on to the values that her parents had enstilled in her at a young age (Leiter). She believed in God and held religion at a high regard in her life. Her opinions of religion were so much so of the Modernism period, that she even had many Puritanistic views on Religion (Leiter). She struggled letting those Puritanistic views go as Modernism surrounded her more (Leiter). Therefore, she kept some of her old views, but at the same time she changed her perspective some on religion and began to question her faith and question what she believed, which scared her and at first caused her much guilt (Leiter). Ralph Waldo Emerson was an encouragement to Emily Dickinson in the pursuit of her own opinions and beliefs versus what she has always grown up knowing (Wayne). In one of Dickinson's poems, she says:

"Some keep the Sabbath going to Church —

I keep it, staying at Home —
With a Bobolink for a Chorister —
And an Orchard, for a Dome —

Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice —
I just wear my Wings —
And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,
Our little Sexton — sings.

God preaches, a noted Clergyman —
And the sermon is never long,
So instead of getting to Heaven, at last —
I'm going, all along."

(The Spirituality of)

This poem shows Emily Dickinson's feelings of church and religion and that she no longer held them as highly important in her life, she thought she had things sorted by herself. Emily Dickinson was a "tweener" when it came to which writing period she belonged to. Emily seemed to really enjoy nature and value it as important, as seen in some of her poetry. Yet in some of her other poems, she seems not to care about nature. Emily Dickinson wrote often of heaven and even about immortality, yet how she wrote about those topics were not in the traditional way of writing about them.

In the Puritan world it was a common thing to always examine your inner life. Emily Dickinson did continually examine her inner life (Cornelius). She also engaged in some sort of inner dialogue with herself. There was much Puritan influence in her life, and the Puritan values were a whole way of thinking in her life (Cornelius). Emily Dickinson knew very well what all of the Puritan values, beliefs, and ways of life were. She had grown up learning and following them all of her life. Yet in many of her poems, Emily Dickinson seemed to appear critical of many of the Puritan beliefs (Cornelius). Emily Dickinson seemed to know what she believed in one poem, but then in the end seemed to have her emotions all mixed up about what she really did believe. Emily Dickinson was a "tweener" when it came to what she believed and what literary category she falls under.

Leiter, Sharon. "Dickinson, Emily." Critical Companion to Emily Dickinson: A Literary Reference to Her Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCED001&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 21, 2012).

Wayne, Tiffany K., ed. "Emily Dickinson and Ralph Waldo Emerson." Critical Companion to Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2010. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCRWE0178&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 21, 2012).

"The Spirituality Of Emily Dickinson." — Poet Seers. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.

Cornelius, Kay. "Dickinson, Emily." In Harold Bloom, ed.Emily Dickinson, Bloom's BioCritiques. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishing, 2002. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= BCED02&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 21, 2012).

Richard Corey & Miniver Cheevy

"Richard Corey" is a poem about a man who everyone envies (Robinson). Everyone who sees him thinks that Richard Corey has everything in his life together. They see that he is rich and has everything he needs and that he is happy and cheerful. Everyone frets about how they will find enough to eat and they go without meat, and all wish they could be like Richard Corey so they could be happy. Then one night, Richard Corey shoots himself (Robinson). Miniver Cheevy is about a guy who wishes he was not born in the era that he was born in (E.A. Robinson). He constantly is reminiscing in the past and thinks about and studies everything from that time period. He is not happy about being where he is, so he does not focus on now. He focuses everything in the past. And with his life now, all he does is drinks (E.A. Robinson). It is interesting that I am supposed to compare these two poems to Emerson and Thoreau. It is interesting because the two men described in these poems are quite the opposite of Emerson and Thoreau. Instead of reminiscing on the past, they study the past and learn from the past so that they can do better in the present and the future (Thoreau) (Wayne). Emerson and Thoreau did not wish they were not who they were and where they were, not because they were perfect, but because they were working hard to seek the truth rather than waste time worrying about what they could not change. Instead of giving up on life, Emerson and Thoreau seek the truth about life so that they can live it to its fullest. Emerson says "You think me the child of my circumstances. I make my circumstances. Let any thought or motive of mine be different from what they are, the difference will transform my condition. You call it the power of circumstance. But it is the power of me!" (The three Fund...). Emerson did not conform to his circumstances like Corey and Cheevy. He instead transformed himself to who he needed to be. He was not passive, but instead sought to be a great man (The Three Fund...).

"45. Richard Corey. Edwin Arlington Robinson. Modern American Poetry." Bartleby.com: Great Books Online. Web. 08 Mar. 2012. .

""Miniver Cheevy" by E.A. Robinson." The Poem Tree: An Online Poetry Anthology. Web. 08 Mar. 2012. .

"The Three Fundamental Concepts of Emerson's Philosophy (3 of 7)."WisdomWorld.org Web Site (Main Page). Web. 08 Mar. 2012.

"Thoreau's Civil Disobedience - with Annotated Text." The Thoreau Reader. Web. 26 Jan. 2012.

Wayne, Tiffany K., ed. "Emerson, Ralph Waldo." Critical Companion to Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2010.Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCRWE0001&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 9, 2012).

The Darling

"The Darling" by Chekhov is a very interesting tale. It is about a woman named Olga (---). Olga is a very likable lady, who all of her girlfriends call her darling, because she is so likable. Olga falls in love with her neighbor and they get married. She quickly adopts all of the views of her husband and lacks any of her own opinions. Her husband dies and she gets remarried. Again, she adopts all of the views of her new husband, lacking any of her own. This happens yet another time, and after this husband dies she has nothing to talk about because she has no opinions of her own, and always relied on the opinions of her husbands, never having to think for herself about what she believed (---). This Way of living and thinking is very opposite of the way Emerson and Thoreau lived and thought. Emerson says that "The mind is urged to ask for one Cause of many effects; then for the cause of that; and again the cause, diving still into the profound; self-assured that it shall arrive at an Absolute and sufficient one; a One that shall be All (The Three Fund...). Emerson clearly thinks that thinking and seeking the cause of things is very important. He is saying that he keeps digging deeper in thought figuring out how things are how they are and seeking the truth all the time. That is a philosophy that Emerson lives by. He constantly is studying and researching things to find the truth and his mind is constantly busy trying to process information and come to his own conclusions based off of his knowledge, understanding, and beliefs. This is how Emerson lives, and it is much different than how Olga lives (---) (The Three Fund...). Instead of actively engaging her mind, Olga relies on the beliefs of her husbands. She does not seek the truth, instead she accepts whatever it is her husband believes is the truth (---). This is extremely passive and is not at all how Emerson or Thoreau lived. They constantly asked questions and sought out the truth (Thoreau). However, Olga does not. She does not dig deeper, she simply accepts her husbands' views as her own without any thought.

"Thoreau's Civil Disobedience - with Annotated Text." The Thoreau Reader. Web. 6 Mar. 2012.

"The Three Fundamental Concepts of Emerson's Philosophy (3 of 7)."WisdomWorld.org Web Site (Main Page). Web. 06 Mar. 2012.

"TWO CHEKHOVS PRODUCTIONS." The Darling. Web. 06 Mar. 2012. .

The Darling

"The Darling" by Chekhov is a very interesting tale. It is about a woman named Olga (Chekhov). Olga is a very likable lady, who all of her girlfriends call her darling, because she is so likable. Olga falls in love with her neighbor and they get married. She quickly adopts all of the views of her husband and lacks any of her own opinions. Her husband dies and she gets remarried. Again, she adopts all of the views of her new husband, lacking any of her own. This happens yet another time, and after this husband dies she has nothing to talk about because she has no opinions of her own, and always relied on the opinions of her husbands, never having to think for herself about what she believed (Chekhov). This Way of living and thinking is very opposite of the way Emerson and Thoreau lived and thought. Emerson says that "The mind is urged to ask for one Cause of many effects; then for the cause of that; and again the cause, diving still into the profound; self-assured that it shall arrive at an Absolute and sufficient one; a One that shall be All (The Three Fund...). Emerson clearly thinks that thinking and seeking the cause of things is very important. He is saying that he keeps digging deeper in thought figuring out how things are how they are and seeking the truth all the time. That is a philosophy that Emerson lives by. He constantly is studying and researching things to find the truth and his mind is constantly busy trying to process information and come to his own conclusions based off of his knowledge, understanding, and beliefs. This is how Emerson lives, and it is much different than how Olga lives (Chekhov) (The Three Fund...). Instead of actively engaging her mind, Olga relies on the beliefs of her husbands. She does not seek the truth, instead she accepts whatever it is her husband believes is the truth (Chekhov). This is extremely passive and is not at all how Emerson or Thoreau lived. They constantly asked questions and sought out the truth (Thoreau). However, Olga does not. She does not dig deeper, she simply accepts her husbands' views as her own without any thought.

"Thoreau's Civil Disobedience - with Annotated Text." The Thoreau Reader. Web. 6 Mar. 2012.

"The Three Fundamental Concepts of Emerson's Philosophy (3 of 7)."WisdomWorld.org Web Site (Main Page). Web. 06 Mar. 2012.

"TWO CHEKHOVS PRODUCTIONS." The Darling. Web. 06 Mar. 2012. .

Wayne, Tiffany K., ed. "Emerson, Ralph Waldo." Critical Companion to Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2010.Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCRWE0001&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 9, 2012).

Chekhov, Anton. "The Darling." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 557-565. Print.

I Will Fight no More Forever

In the speech "I Will Fight No More forever" by Chief Joseph, Joseph's heart is saddened. He tells of the trials of his people (Chief Joseph). He tells of how many of them are dead, or dying, or freezing to death because they do not have blankets. He says that all of the old people have died and all of the children have died. It is only the young people left, but the ones who raised them up and taught them are all dead. Chief Joseph says that he is sick of fighting. He wants to find his children, but he thinks he may find them dead too. He says that he is tired and that his heart is sick and sad. He vows from that point forward to never fight again (Chief Joseph). Emerson once said "...the soul is raised over passion. It seeth identity and Eternal Causation. It is a perceiving what Truth and Right are. Hence it becomes Tranquility" (The Three Fund..). I think that has to do with what Chief Joseph is going through. Emerson says that the soul is raised over passion, and Chief Joseph is past the point of being passionate on the subject, but weary (Chief Joseph) ( The Three Fund...). Emerson says that the soul is seeking what is true and what is right (The Three Fund...). I believe that Chief Joseph has gotten to the point where he sees the injustice that is on his people, and it grieves him (Chief Joseph). He realizes how much his people are hurting. He knows that what has happened is not right, and his soul is is becoming tranquil and he realizes that he must change (Chief Joseph) (The Three Fund...). Emerson also says "The soul in man is not an organ, but animates and exercises all organs. It is not a function, like the power of memory, of calculation, of comparison, but uses these as hands and feet. It is not a faculty, but a light. It is not the intellect or the will, but the Maseter of the intellect and the will. It is the vast background in which they lie, an immensity not possessed and that cannot be possessed." (The Three Fund...). I think this ties quite well into Chief Joseph's speech. I think the things that have happened do not sit well with Chief Joseph's soul, therefore it guides the rest of his actions in his life, and he will follow that leading from his soul (Chief Joseph).

"Chief Joseph." Welcome to Georgia State University. Web. 02 Mar. 2012. .

"The Three Fundamental Concepts of Emerson's Philosophy (3 of 7)." WisdomWorld.org Web Site (Main Page). Web. 02 Mar. 2012.

"I Will Fight No More Forever - A Surrender Speech & Analysis." Santharia. Web. 02 Mar. 2012. .

Wayne, Tiffany K., ed. "Emerson, Ralph Waldo." Critical Companion to Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2010.Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCRWE0001&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 9, 2012).

The Celebrated Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County

In "The Celebrated Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County", the narrator was looking to find information about someone, so his friend suggested that he go to a certain tavern to ask an old man by the name of Simon Wheeler about this person (The Celebrated...). When the narrator finally found the man, he asked him if he knew anything about Leonidas W. Smiley. The man told him that he knew of a man named Jim Smiley, and he went off on a tangent about Jim Smiley and his unusual characteristics. In fact, the entire story by Mark Twain was about this strange man Jim Smiley, and his gambling. After listening to the story for much time, the narrator eventually leaves the tavern, having gained no information about Leonidas W. Smiley, and begins to think his friend may have set him up by sending him to see Wheeler (The Celebrated...). It is quite difficult to fathom a connection between this story and Emerson, especially after have reading the boring and random text about the random Jim Smiley. If I would say so myself, I do not believe that there is much linking "The Celebrated Jumping Frogs of Calveras County" to Emerson, except that they are complete opposites (The Celebrated...) (Wayne). From my research, Emerson seems to be a man of upright character who values discipline, common sense, and thinking. His words all seem to be well thought out before he speaks, and they seem to be to the point, on topic, and cause you to think about the point he is trying to make (Wayne). Emerson does not waste time beating around the bush, yet he is not forceful or anger-filled. He simply states his opinions, backs them up with reason, and allows everyone else to take it or leave it (Wayne). The traits that I just mentioned of Emerson couldn't be more opposite that Simon Wheeler (The Celebrated...). In the story he is extremely off topic, distracted, and makes no sense. He seems to have no cares in the world and just talks and talks forever about mindless nonsense. This is the total opposite of Emerson. However, the narrator of "The Celebrated Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County" may actually have some things in common with Emerson. The man was extremely bored by the unintelligent nonsense coming out of Wheeler's mouth, but he was not rude toward him. He let him talk and heard him out. But when he finished and there was no more point of him being there, he left (The Celebrated...). The narrator seems to be much like Emerson (The Celebrated...) (Wayne).

"The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." 301 Moved Permanently. Web. 08 Mar. 2012. .

Wayne, Tiffany K., ed. "Emerson, Ralph Waldo." Critical Companion to Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2010.Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCRWE0001&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 9, 2012).

The Red Badge of Courage

In "The Red Badge of Courage", Henry, a youth soldier in the Civil War, is the main character (Crane). In the beginning of the story Henry is cocky and confident about himself. He wants to be known as a great war hero and wants to fight well so that he will be widely known and glorified. But throughout the book the reader sees a change in Henry. In one battle, Henry chickens out and retreats to save himself. He is ashamed of his cowardly act and next time goes into battle stronger than ever with much bravery. It is then that Henry becomes one of the best fighters on the battle field in his regiment. By the end of the story Henry is not confident about himself, but rather confident in himself. Henry goes into the war a boy, and comes out of the war a man. His character grows immensely during the war (Crane). I believe that Henry from "The Red Badge of Courage" can be compared in some ways to Henry David Thoreau. "Civil Disobedience" is written by Thoreau. In "Civil Disobedience", Thoreau is very confident at first. He makes many claims that he does not back up. He argues topics and raises points, but then does not follow through with his actions (Thoreau). This is somewhat like Henry, who is all talk and no walk (Crane). In "Civil Disobedience" Thoreau is put in jail because he did not pay his poll tax (Thoreau). This act is very immature, just like Henry's action of retreating on the battlefield is immature (Crane). Thoreau eventually goes away by himself and spends his time in the woods pondering (Thoreau). This is when Thoreau grows up a bit, when he takes time to analyze and ponder, rather than react. This is just the same in "The Red Badge of Courage" (Crane). Henry grows up when he thinks about everything that is happening and realizes how he needs to act, despite his emotions. It is when he eventually sees the bigger picture and sees how small of a piece he is in it that he truly becomes a man (Crane).

"The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane." The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. Web. 27 Feb. 2012. .

"Thoreau's Civil Disobedience - with Annotated Text." The Thoreau Reader. Web. 26 Jan. 2012.

"Salem Press." Object Moved. Web. 27 Feb. 2012. .

Wayne, Tiffany K., ed. "Emerson, Ralph Waldo." Critical Companion to Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2010.Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCRWE0001&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 9, 2012).

The Story of an Hour

In "The Story of an Hour", a woman receives news that a train wreck has happened and her husband has died (The Story of an Hour). She spends some time grieving, as any person would. But then she realizes that this puts a whole new outlook on life. She realizes that she is free! She no longer has to live a joint life with her husband, she can live freely and selfishly! she rejoices in these thoughts and becomes very excited that she now can live for herself. When she decides to go downstairs, someone walks in the door. It is her husband. He was not in the train wreck. The woman dies of a heart attack at the thought that she now must share life with him (The Story of an Hour). Ralph Waldo Emerson fell in love with a girl who was much younger than him (Wayne). She was ill however, just like the woman in this story is ill with a heart condition. Ralph Waldo Emerson eventually marries this girl and is so happy. But soon after their marriage begins, it ends. His marriage ends because his young wife dies, just like the wife in this story dies (The Story of an Hour) (Wayne). One of Emerson's philosophies that applies in this story is to pursue the things you want to pursue before its too late (Wayne). Emerson never directly says to do that, but it is apparent that it is one of his philosophies or beliefs, because he lives in a way where he is always pursuing what is important to him. He held off many things in life so that he could pursue his studies. He also did not do much to pursue being a minister. He started to, because of encouragement from his aunt, but soon realized that it wasn't a job for him, so he quickly moved on and pursued other things like speaking and writing. In "The Story of an Hour", the wife, Louise, does not pursue the things she wants to pursue (The Story of an Hour). Had she pursued the things she wanted to pursue, she would not have rejoiced at her husband's death. "The Story of an Hour" encourages the reader to pursue their desires, as does Emerson's biography. (The Story of an Hour) (Wayne).

""The Story of an Hour"" Virginia Commonwealth University. Web. 08 Mar. 2012. .

"Kate Chopin "The Story of an Hour"" The Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin, Characters, Setting. Web. 08 Mar. 2012. .

Wayne, Tiffany K., ed. "Emerson, Ralph Waldo." Critical Companion to Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2010.Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CCRWE0001&SingleRecord=True (accessed March 9, 2012).