Assigned 10/21

Denice talked about Their Eyes Were Watching God with enthusiasm. She gave an incredible synopsis, and like Alexandra, revealed how an author's life can really enhance their literature. It must be correlated with the author's ability to relate to the specifics of a given memory.

Dev'n then took the floor, sparking discussion of translated literature. And in light of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Chronicle of a Death Foretold, most of us concluded that translated works cannot carry a reader as far as literature in its original language. Reading in English a piece intended for a spanish speaking audience forces the new English audience to enter into a very different worldview. Dr. Hurst added the thought that all of literature is an activity similar to understanding translation. She explained; every author holds a very independent worldview. Learning this new worldview as one moves through a text is part of the game and not just practiced in reading translations.

Kit gave a good explanation of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. And once again, I concluded that the author's life directly influenced the writings. Mark Twain grew up on the banks of the Mississippi. Naturally, his stories take us there. It seems fair to conclude that when an author writes about things common to them, the shocking uphill battle of finishing a successful piece of literature is lessened.

Natalia spoke on Mayo Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. After this brief introduction into Angelou's life of being the victim of racism, I better understand why the caged bird sings.

Jessica floored the audience as well. She presented an ancient interpretation of Harry Potter. Or should I call her presentation a modern interpretation of The Libation Bearers? The many connections between Harry and the protagonist of The Libation Bearers causes me to wonder if J.K Rowling is an Ancient Greek fan club member.

And then all of a sudden, a guy gets up and presents an amazing project! John enlightened the audience of The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I'm so glad I showed up to class this past thursday. I am a visual learner and even thinker, and John seemed to be utilizing this avenue to display his information. I hope everyone understood the point of his presentation. He revealed McCarthy's use of words to reveal the setting of a passage. Every word can matter so much in literature; authors and communicators can never be too careful when choosing and placing words.

Out.