Book Review:
(A discussion of the three best books studied in 303, first semester) From Where the Wild Things Are to Jane Eyre, I have read countless volumes. I’ve chewed some, tasted some, and swallowed a few. I’ve read for entertainment and for educational purposes, like in McGee’s class. It is remarkable to think that books are just a collection of twenty six letters. These letters, words, pages, volumes, all have a remarkable impact on our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Reading has the power to bring people to tears, make them laugh, and to get lost in another world; they have the power to expand the mind, to change our lives, and be our companions. Every book I’ve read has led me to McGee’s classroom; here my mind has been expanded …show more content…
Learning about Chaucer was an interesting addition to this text. His life and story is valuable to understanding this text. Chaucer wrote his stories for the common people of England and invented the English language. Of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, The Wife of Bath’s Tale, is the most impactful to me. I enjoyed the discussions of male and female dynamics. I also enjoyed learning about satire and how Chaucer uses it in his text to more effectively reach his audience. His attack on the hypocrisy of the church was refreshing, and his use of character sketches to draw in the reader was interesting. Studying how it has impacted other texts and Western thought was an interesting aspect of this text too. His influences on Shakespeare were eye opening for me. This text was impactful for me because of the personal relation I felt to the text and the level of discussions we were able to …show more content…
Because we studied Aeneid earlier in the year, Virgil was an even more significant in his role as Dante’s guide through hell. The hell Dante creates in Inferno is very interesting as well. The levels of hell are symbolic of the degrees of sin, and retribution as a punishment. Memorizing the “Up on Your Feet” was influential to me as well. “Up on your feet. This is no time to tire. My master cried, ‘ The man who lies asleep will never waken fame and his desire, and all his life will drift past him like a dream, and the traces of his memory will fade from time like smoke in air or ripples on a stream. Now therefore rise. Control your breath, and call upon the strength of soul that wins all battles unless it sinks in the gross body’s fall. There is no longer ladder yet to limb. This much is not enough. If you understand me, show that you mean to profit from your time.” This passage speaks to me because it relates to the difficulties of going through life. There are times I’ve wanted to quit, to sit down, and to stop trying so hard. I receive courage through this passage. Dante’s hell is unique because it is specifically his. We all have our own hell we have to pass through. The discussions accompanying this text were also strong and
(A discussion of the three best books studied in 303, first semester) From Where the Wild Things Are to Jane Eyre, I have read countless volumes. I’ve chewed some, tasted some, and swallowed a few. I’ve read for entertainment and for educational purposes, like in McGee’s class. It is remarkable to think that books are just a collection of twenty six letters. These letters, words, pages, volumes, all have a remarkable impact on our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Reading has the power to bring people to tears, make them laugh, and to get lost in another world; they have the power to expand the mind, to change our lives, and be our companions. Every book I’ve read has led me to McGee’s classroom; here my mind has been expanded …show more content…
Learning about Chaucer was an interesting addition to this text. His life and story is valuable to understanding this text. Chaucer wrote his stories for the common people of England and invented the English language. Of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, The Wife of Bath’s Tale, is the most impactful to me. I enjoyed the discussions of male and female dynamics. I also enjoyed learning about satire and how Chaucer uses it in his text to more effectively reach his audience. His attack on the hypocrisy of the church was refreshing, and his use of character sketches to draw in the reader was interesting. Studying how it has impacted other texts and Western thought was an interesting aspect of this text too. His influences on Shakespeare were eye opening for me. This text was impactful for me because of the personal relation I felt to the text and the level of discussions we were able to …show more content…
Because we studied Aeneid earlier in the year, Virgil was an even more significant in his role as Dante’s guide through hell. The hell Dante creates in Inferno is very interesting as well. The levels of hell are symbolic of the degrees of sin, and retribution as a punishment. Memorizing the “Up on Your Feet” was influential to me as well. “Up on your feet. This is no time to tire. My master cried, ‘ The man who lies asleep will never waken fame and his desire, and all his life will drift past him like a dream, and the traces of his memory will fade from time like smoke in air or ripples on a stream. Now therefore rise. Control your breath, and call upon the strength of soul that wins all battles unless it sinks in the gross body’s fall. There is no longer ladder yet to limb. This much is not enough. If you understand me, show that you mean to profit from your time.” This passage speaks to me because it relates to the difficulties of going through life. There are times I’ve wanted to quit, to sit down, and to stop trying so hard. I receive courage through this passage. Dante’s hell is unique because it is specifically his. We all have our own hell we have to pass through. The discussions accompanying this text were also strong and