British Literature Flashbacks

This semester in Britist Literature we've covered three main periods: the Romantic Period, the Victorian Period, and the Modernist Period. Each contrasting the others in it's own way. Let's take a blog to have a flash back on British Literature has evolved...

First there was the Romantic Period (1789-1830). This period was characterized by imagination, emotion, idealism, inclusion of everyone, and everything was fluid. Everything about this period was new and opposite from everything before it. Much of the texts we covered in this period had political opinions. However I'm not really into politics so my favorite text we covered was Ode to e Grecian Urn by John Keats. I enjoyed how it covered art as a way to leave something behind, a way to preserve memories.

Next came the Victorian Period (1830-1901). This was an age caught up in technological jumps and urbanization. Everything was expected to be proper and polite at all times. Tradition was valued above all. I really enjoyed how many writers of this period brought a duality to their characters. No one was entirely good or entire bad. My favorite was My The Last Duchess by Robert Browning. The Duke could be seen from so many different angles. He could be a murderer or he could be a broken hearted lover. He could be egotistical or he could be vulnerable.

Last we covered the Modernist Period (1914-1938). Modernists had an elitist view where only a select few could understand what many of their writers were talking about. They were atheistic, random, divided in their person, and full of brokenness. With the Great War going on a lot of the literature was reflecting on war. My favorite text was Hap by Thomas Hardy. It is a poem angry at god. All of us have question god at some point, and I enjoyed Hardy's reflection on it in a poem.

So that's are moment to reminisce on British Literature! Certainly covered some extraordinary writers and texts. We've see how literature changes and evolves through time. Literature is even still changing!

Scrooge-iness

In A Christmas Carol, the character of Scrooge is well known as a penny pencher. He certainly had his share of sad experiences that led him to be so and also his own faults that he allowed to flourish. I've certainly seen my share of Scrooge's and shown a little Scrooge myself.

For almost three years now I've had the glorious job of a waitress. Actually having the job completely changes your view of the job. It's hard work dealing with people on the level we do. People very often forget we are people too; souls and all. Just like how Scrooge over looked his clerks person in A Christmas Carol. We very often have been working hours upon hours on our feet for a "generous" 10%.

People hold many false beliefs about servers. Many people would like to say "Oh, waiters can make hundreds of dollars in a night! My penny penching won't hurt them!" Wrong. Rural areas don't have high tippers. Also, it's not your waiters fault if you don't like the food. It's the kitchen staffs. We get around $2.50 an hour. The rest of our pay entire depends on our customers. Side thought- if you and your spouse are fighting, don't come out to eat. It's just awkward for your server to deal with.

Overall, servers work harder than people realize. Mind they do have their bad days, but they're trying to support a families and live out dreams with the tips you give them, and are working for a living just like you. They don't need to be Scrooged.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

I believe everyone is familiar with the classic story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde written by Robert Lewis Stevenson. What I find most startling is how Stevenson is emphasising the duality of characters, however Hyde is only portrayed in the light of evil through the other characters eyes. Why is it that Stevenson left out the personal account of Hyde yet allowed the other characters to have multiple dimensions?

I believe Hyde is may be portrayed as evil so that we will stop and think. When we're catching personal accounts from all the characters but one, it is possible Stevenson was doing this so we would dig deeper about the character of Hyde. Is Hyde truly evil? Or are we just not getting the details needed to see him in a fair light?

It is also possible Stevenson characterized Hyde in pure evil so that in our questioning we would relate it to ourselves. How often do we judge others as "black" or "white" without knowing the details. Often we will make assumptions of people from that a friend has said with out having a real conversation with the person. Perhaps it has a social lesson mixed in.

Overall it's very interesting how Stevenson chose to cast Hyde with out a personal account and in pure evil. Whether it be for contrast in the characters, to make us think, or to teach us a lesson, Hyde's character certainly has caught our attention in this classic.

Peom on Spring Allergies

Having read many peoms lately, I feel somewhat inspired to write one of my own. The following poem is in reflect on my spring allergies. I'm no poet, but this was fun!

Spring is Here

The flowers bloom in full color,
Freshly green they greet on another.
Their yellow dust coats the out of doors.
I feel my throat is growing sores.

My nose begins to sneeze;
the flowers I want to sqeeze.
I feel my eyes itch,
and down my brows begin to twitch.

Many medicines I do try,
But their failure leads me to cry.
Tissues cover my floors,
And left undone are my chores.

The rain cannot keep it at bay;
It gives them more energy to play.
I'll simply sleep through this season,
Due to my allergies fuzzy reason.