Journal #1

Tabbing. The Stranger

1) Repetition of thoughts. This tab is to keep track of when Mersault mentions a certain idea, and then revisits it a while later. This shows the leniency of his thought process.(pink)

2) Over explanation of thoughts or actions. This tab tracks the times Mersault gives seemingly too much reasoning behind something he did or said, and tries to find an excuse for it.(orange)

3) Time. This tab keeps track of time, date, time of day, and any form of time Mersault references.(hot pink)

4) Cigarettes/Alcohol. This tab appears any time Mersault mentions a cigarette or any form of alcohol, including any time he expresses a desire for smoking.(yellow)

Journal #10

The unbalance of power within a relationship will ultimately lead to its failure. I believe that although this theme may need some reworking, it offer quite an amount of evidence in Janies various relationships.

• "She knew now that marriage did not make love." (p.25)
  
• "If Ah kin haul de wood heah and chop it fuh yuh, look lak uh oughta be able tuh tote it inside [...] You done been spoilt rotten." (p.26)
  
• "You don't need mah help out dere, Logan. Youse in yo' place and Ah'm in mine." (p.31)
  
• "I God, Ah ain't nowhere near old enough to have no grown daughter. This here is mah wife."
• "It must have been the way Joe spoke out without giving her a chance to say anything one way or another that took the bloom off things."
• "Janie, Ah'll git hold uh somebody tuh help out in de store and you kin look after things whilst Ah drum up things otherwise."

Journal #9

Mini-Pastiche #2

Jen stared bleakly at the rusting pipes visible through the broken ceiling. Yet another example of the problems within her home. Her marriage was falling apart at the seams and the only thing she could do to better the conditions surrounding it, would tear it further apart.
"Whut are yu doing in here woman! I told yu to keep yuself in the kitchin where yus belong!" Her husband tottered into their bedroom.
"Ahm jus takin' a break Sam. Ah'll be right thur in a bit." Responded Jen. There was no way to placate Sam when he was drinking. He held all the power, and even more when his actions were inhibited. Shame. Anger. Just a few of the emotions that broiled within her.
"Yu be sure to be be back soon girl, if not be sure yu'll get a whippin'."
"Yes Sam suh."
Jen stared at Sam's tense yet loose posture as he ambled back into another part of the house. She recalled a time at the beginning of her marriage when all seemed peaceful, and serene. They had been relaxing under a shedding tree, eating the fruits it bore.
"Jen suguh, ah swear ah'll always do gud by yu. Ah'll nevah let the drink take hold o' me like it did my fathuh." Jen recalled Sam's words. Back then, all had seemed perfect. However, as time progressed, Jen became less and less of a person, resulting in a mere shadow that tended to Sam's whims and needs down to the last letter. Jen had no idea how this had come around, but knew she needed to take hold of her life again.


In my passage I used the theme of "unbalances of power in a relationship ultimately lead to failure". My passage mirrors one of Hurstons main themes, that she portrays in Janie's two failed marriages.
Techniques I used include: symbolism, dialect, syntax, flashback, and oxymoron.
Symbolism is portrayed in the opening sentence. That Jen could see the interior of her home breaking down was a representation of her relationship that was exposed and breaking down.
Dialect is apparent through the characters dialogue. They have sort of an uneducated form of speaking, yet the narrarators voice is educated. This mirrors Hurstons novel.
Syntax is viewed all throughout the passage, and specifically in the middle. I use short concise phrases in order to express how the narrarator - Jen, feels about about her husbands treatment.
Flashback is used in order to show a contrast between the current situation in the marriage, and the past. Also, a bit of irony is shown because of Jen's expectation, and her reality.
Oxymoron is used when Jen is describing her husbands posture. It's a condradiction that contrasts his feelings with his physical state.

Journal #8

Stylistic Attributes

1. "He was lying on his side facing the door like he was expecting somebody or something. A sort of changing look on his face. Weak-looking but sharp-pointed about the eyes. Through the thin counterpane she could see what was left of his belly huddled before him on the bed like some helpless thing seeking shelter"
An oxymoron is present in this passage, when Hurston says "weak-looking but sharp-pointed". Hurston uses this in order to emphasize whats left of Joes spirit shining through his faded exterior. Personification is also used in this passage. This is used to add character to the text.

2. "Janie starched and ironed her face and came set in the funeral behind her veil. It was like a wall of stone and steel. The funeral was going on outside. All things concerning death and burial were said and done. Finish. End. Nevermore. Darkness. Deep hole. Dissolution. Eternity. Weeping and wailing outside. Inside the expensive black folds were resurrection and life. She did not reach outside for anything, nor did the things of death reach inside to disturb her calm."
Syntax plays the role of the predominant technique in this passage. Hurston uses short concise sentences while expressing Janie's feelings about Joe's death and burial. She does this in order to emphasize the brusqueness Janie felt, and her opinion in general.

3."The next morning Pheoby picked her way over to Janie's house like a hen to a neighbor's garden. Stopped and talked a little with everyone she met, turned aside momentarily to pause at a porch or too-going straight by walking crooked. So her firm intention looked like an accident and she didn't have to give her opinion to folks along the way"
The literary technique displayed here is that of a paradox, a contradiction. Hurston uses this particular technique in order to expose Pheoby's actual intentions to the reader, but not the rest of the characters.

Journal #7

Pastiche

And John began to dream of Jealousy. Jealousy and its millions of tentacles reaching and grasping towards dominance in all places. Untouchable and invincible, roaming throughout the land, with no need for shelter of any sort. Never lying still, extremities forever grasping at all possible weaknesses. Existent since the beginning of time, and would be until the end of humanity. John would find his reach enclosing close relationships soon. He was worried about it's future effects. What would occur when tentacles gained hold of his already fatigued relationship with Jane? He tried and tried to fix it somehow, but his counter part refused.
Jane believed she was in the right about all matters pertaining to their relationship, but truth was, she didn't know much. It would soon be over, she had an idea of how and why. Jane was convinced of this. But it wouldn't, not if John could evade it. Emotions, previously unknown to John, began to pool in his mind. Sentiments and thoughts contrasting those previous of love and sorrow were gathering. Anger, that raging, sprawling feline, began to prowl amidst his otherwise calm mind.

Journal #6

Death

"So Janie began to think of Death. Death, that strange being with the huge square toes who lived way in the West. The great one who lived in the straight house like a platform without sides to it, and without a roof. What need has Death for a cover, and what winds can blow against him? He stands in his high house that overlooks the world. Stands watchful and motionless all day with his sword drawn back, waiting for the messenger to bid him come. Been standing there before there was a where or a when or a then. She was liable to find a feather from his wings lying in her yard any day now. She was sad and afraid too. Poor Jody! He ought not to have to wrassle in there by himself. She sent Sam in to suggest a visit, but Jody said No. These medical doctors wuz all right with the Godly sick, but they didn't know a thing about a case like his. He'd be all right just as soon as the two-headed man found what had been buried against him. He wasn't going to die at all. That was what he thought. But Sam told her different, so she knew. And then if he hadn't, the next morning she was bound to know, for people began to gather in the big yard under the palm and china-berry trees. People who would not have dared to foot the place before crept in and did not come to the house. Just squatted under the trees and waited. Rumor, the wingless bird, had shadowed over the town." (pg.84, Hurston)

• Death is personified as a seemingly all powerful bird. This is emphasized when Janie explains that he has no need for sides of a house or a roof, because he cannot be hurt.
  
• The bird is described in such a way that makes him seem omnicisient.
  
• Death is repeated all throughout the passage, with a capitalized "D".
• First Death is described vaguely, slowly growing in detail later on in the passage.
• Janie using a nickname for Joe and narrarating the passage shows her growth of control of her life and dreams.
• Another demonstration of Janie's growing control is her decision to suggest doctors to Joe.
  

Journal #5

Thesis Statement

Zora Neale Hurston utilizes the technique of foreshadowing when introducing the plot in order to create a sense of curiosity and expectation in the audience. Hurston uses this technique in order to draw the reader in.

Journal #4

Pattern 1:
The first pattern I noticed was one of males assuming dominance and ownership over Janie. This is displayed in various places in the book, such as:
pg.31: "You ain't got no particular place. It's wherever Ah need yuh. Git uh move on yuh, and dat quick."
pg.43: "Thank yuh fuh yo' compliments, but mah wife don't know nothin' bout no speech-makin'. Ah never married her for nothin' lak dat. She's uh woman and her place is in de home."

Pattern 2:
The second pattern that caught my attention is the connection of love and marriage to trees and plants.
pg.10: "She saw the dust bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to tiniest branch creaming in every blossom and frothing with delight. So this was marriage!"
pg.24: "Ah wants things sweet wid mah marriage lak when you sit under a pear tree and think. Ah. . ."
pg.106: "He could be a bee to a blossom- a pear tree blossom in the spring."

Pattern 3:
Lastly, the third pattern I found was that of new and better things appearing or happening with the appearance of the sun. Love is also very involved with the sun.
pg.25: "It was wonderful to see it take form with the sun and emerge from the gray dust of its making."
pg.29: "Leave e s'posin' and everything else to me. Ah'll be down dis road uh little after sunup tomorrow mornin' to wait for you. [. . .]"
pg.33: "So they were married there before sundown, just like Joe had said."

Journal #3

Harlem Renaissance.
The figure I chose to research was an important musician in the Harlem Renaissance. His name is William "Count" Basie. Count Basie played the piano and the organ, apart from composing music and directing his jazz ensemble, Count Basie Orchestra. He gained various awards for his musical work. He shortly played in the band "Famous Blue Devils", along with Jimmy Rushing. Two hits he became known for include April in Paris, and One O'Clock Jump.


I am using the way Spanish in my town differs from typical Spanish as inspiration. The reason I am using this as a prompt for my dialect is because the way we speak in my town is very distinctive and differs greatly from normal Spanish. However, my imagination will be contributing to some of the more creative characteristics.

Rules.
Grammar

• In Spanish, the word vos is used instead of tu, because it is more informal. Since I can't write this in Spanish, I will be substituting yuhn for you.
• When describing an object, the adjective will go after the word. For example, "the blue car" turns into "the car blue". I'm doing this because in Spanish objects are described like that.
• Questions are inexistent, they are phrased as commands. For example, "will you pick that up" turns into, "you will pick that up". This is done because in Spanish questions and commands differ merely by the tone they are said with. In a command, emphasis is usually put on the first word, and in a question, a questioning tone is used.
  

Pronunciation

• The first"e" in a word is pronounced as "ay".
  
• Double "L's" (LL), and double "T's" (TT) are pronounced as "J". For example, "jello" would be "jejo". This is because in Argentinean Spanish, the double "L" is pronounced like this.
• "A's" are pronounced as "u" due to a mutation in my character's vocal chords.
  

Vocabulary

• "Girl" is replaced with "Mina".
• "Bus" is replaced with "Burakp"
• "The" is replaced with "Fpherp", therefore, it is pronounced "ffffffayrp".

Dialogue.
"Who are you?" sighed Count Basie. "Why must I keep meeting strange citizens in pecuilar ways?"
"Whut do you meun who um I!" Shouted the outraged man.
"I mean what I asked, who are you? I've never seen you around in this particular bus" replied Basie.
"I'vs bayen driving this burakp for fpherp pust six yayars. I'vs known you ayver since yuhn wayre six yeurs younger thun yuhn ure!" answered the man, who wore a name tag with "Bobero" imprinted on it.
"Well my fine friend, you obviously must have some mental defect, because there has never been a bus driver named Bobero who lacked the ability to speak coherent English." Basie snapped.
"Wayll look who's culling the taya kayjle.. nayvermind. Yuhn huvay mispronounced my numay." said Bobero smugly.
"What are you talking about?! Your name is Bobero, there is simply no way to mispronounce it, because it is not a real word." replied the shocked Count Basie.
"Wayll aycuse yuhn! It is pronounced Bobayro!" exclaimed Bobero.
"I'm sorry to inform you that you are completely incorrect. There is no way your name is or could be pronounced in that way" remarked Basie.
"Yuhn cun usk thut mina sijing right thayre" answered Bobero with confidence.
"What? Who is Mina? What is a Mina?" questioned Count Basie.
Bobero replied in an annoyed tone, "Thut young ludy sijing right thayre! Don't yuhn see hayr? Shay's wayaring a juckayt purple."
"I am afraid I cannot tolerate this kind of blatant disrespect. I will be riding a different bus in the future, and I wish you a good- actuajy scratch that, a horrible day sir." said Basie.
"Wayj good ridduncay to yuhn. I hopay nayver to saye yuhn uguain." muttered Bobero.

Comment
I commented on Megan Davis's blog.

Journal #2

She was stretched on her back beneath the pear tree soaking in the alto chant of the visiting bees, the gold of the sun and the panting breath of the breeze when the inaudible voice of it all came to her. She saw a dust-bearing bee sink into the sanctum of a bloom; the thousand sister-calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree from root to the tiniest branch creaming in every branch and frothing with delight. So this was a marriage! She had been summoned to behold a revelation. Then Janie felt a pain remorseless sweet that left her limp and languid.

• This passage personifies all the inanimate objects such as the tree, and creates a sense of life and interaction between it and its extremities.
• The bees are also personified, they a a group are said to have an "alto chant", something that usually applies to a group of people.
  
• The letter "B" is repeated a lot, such as in bees, breeze, breath, bloom,branch.
• Love and strong emotions are invoked within the whole paragraph.
• There is a possible reference to God, because it is not clarified who she had been summoned by to behold a revelation.
• A lot of descriptive language present.
• The adjectives present are very passionate.
• This passage almost seems overly sexualized, perhaps to emphasize Janie's innocence at a younger age.
• Some foreshadowing seems to be present: "So this was marriage!" refers to Janie's three upcoming marriages.
• Hurston uses the tree to illustrate Janie's view of marriage by utilizing descriptive words and creating a sense of love and life within it.
• The "thousand sister-calyxes" are personified and given a role with the bees.
• There seems to be a relaxed mood.
• The whole setting is explained in a detailed manner.
• Janie isn't referred to by name until the last sentence, thus ambiguity and vagueness is very apparent.
  
• Janie interprets the scenario as an idealistic portrayal of marriage.
  

Journal #1

I would tell my life story to my children, and my grandchildren. Although my life isn't and probably won't be fascinating, I feel like it would explain future actions and behaviors that they might struggle to understand. I would like for them to know why I became the person I will be, and know which events completely changed me, and how. I would want to hear their opinions on my experiences and see how what I've told them would affect them. I think it would help them make better choices and possibly avoid conflicts.

I would begin from the moment I found out I was moving to Argentina, in seventh grade. I'm picking this moment because this episode of my life is the one that has changed my view on life and my philosophies. I would start from the beginning, from the way my parents told me we were leaving. I'd tell them how i reacted, every emotion I felt, and which actions I took as a consequence. Later, I would describe every thought developing in my mind as I stepped into my new home, and again when I arrived at the foreign, unknown school I would spend two years in. I feel like it's crucial to explain it all in a detailed manner, because each new moment affected me in some way, affected my actions, thus affecting my relationships and choices. These all contributed to forming my personality and my perspective on others and the world, and that is why I chose this experience.