Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become. C. S. Lewis

REFLECTION

 Looking back, this will hands down be my favorite class for my first semester at Farmingdale State College. Going into the class, I must mention that I was not the biggest fan of literature and truly believed that I would be bored.  However now I am a big fan of literature and over the weeks I have grown to appreciate the concepts, the subtle messages and the linking of the works of poetry and prose to the outside world. This class has helped me build on my speaking skills as you have to formulate ideas and communicate them to the class.This has helped me in the wider world as instead of being quite I can now express myself more readily. The topics  and class discussions;some discussed in subsequent posts on my blog, were profound and interesting. The way The lecturer taught didn't facilitate regurgitation but it facilitated thinking opening our eyes to the world through the analysis and understanding of literature which indeed are written by people hence a refection of the true world. The enthusiasm and the true passion for her subject is what gave some of us the drive to learn and complete the tasks at hand. 

Beauty

One class we talked about the concept of beauty ad by extension being desired. I have come to believe that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. There is no stock example to point at, that the whole world will agree that this is beauty. The features of us humans vary very much, so do our perception of beauty. Mrs Brady gave us an example of when she went to another country and  someone said she must be so beautiful in the winter, because of the fact that she was tanned. The social implication of being tanned lead to people believing you were of lower class and therefore the whiter you were the more beautiful in there perception. However tanning salons back where Mrs Brady is from is a booming business because the perception of beauty is having tanned skin. I used this concept to link to what i had learned in my previous Caribbean history class. The indigenous Indians of the Caribbean use to flatten the heads of there babies because they believe the flatter the forehead the more beautiful they were. i could go on and on with examples but i know my point has been brought across hat beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Illusion

First impression, lasting impression. The discussion of the theme of illusion was one that brought great excitement to me, because i could relate easily o the examples in the outward society.We as humans create illusions everyday. unconsciously even. The expensive pairs of Jordan's worn by poor guys to the coach bags worn by girls who are on food stamps, illusion is all around us. And sometimes these illusions are peeled away and reality shows its self, just like the motif of light used in the play a streetcar named desire. One of my classmates brought the point across about how many times have we heard the statement: "i never knew you we like that." we have all heard that statement weather directly or indirectly.It is the reality that showed, is the reason why that question was asked. The person you are around your parents can be a completely different person when your interacting with your friend and still an even more different person n a church setting. Analyzing this theme has equipped us with the knowledge that there are illusions all around us and if we weren't looking for them before, now some of them are clear as day.

DESIRE

 Lectures about Desire

Through out the semester we discussed the theme of desire on numerous occasions   It was connected to almost all pieces we read because desire is such a great part of the human condition. Desire can end up being our downfall or it can be the fuel to aid us work for a better situation than we had found ourselves in back the past.Also there is a common feeling for as as humans to be desire, to be wanted, we desire for acceptance, desire to be happy. In the play a street car named Desire. It can be seen where unfulfilled desire can cause us o build parallel realities in our brains, to help cope with the actuality of unfulfilled desires. I see this i myself sometimes and i never realized until we went though that lesson. Desire is apart of the human condition, understanding it, aids us in the day to day communication with others.

A Red Flower by the Jamaican poet Claude McKay

A Red Flower

Your lips are like a southern lily red,
Wet with the soft rain-kisses of the night,
In which the brown bee buries deep its head,
When still the dawn's a silver sea of light.

Your lips betray the secret of your soul,
The dark delicious essence that is you,
A mystery of life, the flaming goal
I seek through mazy pathways strange and new.

Your lips are the red symbol of a dream,
What visions of warm lilies they impart,
That line the green bank of a fair blue stream,
With butterflies and bees close to each heart!

Brown bees that murmur sounds of music rare,
That softly fall upon the langourous breeze,
Wafting them gently on the quiet air
Among untended avenues of trees.

O were I hovering, a bee, to probe
Deep down within your scented heart, fair flower,
Enfolded by your soft vermilion robe,
Amorous of sweets, for but one perfect hour!
Claude McKay

Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (Live at The Royal Albert Hall)

Jamaica national anthem

 Seeing that I was introduced to, and subsequently also grew to love poetry because of my literature class. I would like to share the Jamaican anthem, because it means so much to me. The poetry of it is amazing and also the fact that it is in the form of a prayer.

ENJOY

Adele Skyfall Lyric
A sample of the poetry  in song  by the artist Adele

How Do I Love Thee? by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43) by Elizabeth Barrett Browning How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.