My Poets in the Kitchen

Paule Marshall’s article says, “given the way children are raised in our society, with little girls kept closer to home and their mothers, the woman writer stands a better chance of being exposed, while growing up, to the kind of talk that goes on among women, more often than not in the kitchen; and that this experience gives her an edge over her male counterpart by instilling in her an appreciation for ordinary speech”. My inspiration for writing is much similar to Paule’s poets. My poets in the kitchen are my mother and her side of the family. (Marshall 627-633)

The poets in the kitchen hits pretty close to home for me, especially around the holidays when my expanded family and I would all gather together. My grandparents and their family were born and raised in former Yugoslavia, but immigrated to the United States to escape war and poverty. So they have a different understanding of the culture and language here. They still seemed to be stuck in Eastern Europe. Growing up around this opened me to an understanding of my world and theirs. Every year we would reunite at my great aunts small kitchen based house. No matter what room you were in it was in close proximity to the kitchen where everyone dwelled, talking about the latest family gossip or constant talk of health, kids or the old days. I would join in the conversation sometimes, more now a day as I grow older, but usually I prefer the couch near the center table where I can listen without being involved.

“Common speech and the plain, workaday words that make it up are, after all, the stock in trade of some of the best fiction writers. They are the principal means by which characters in a novel or story reveal themselves and give voice sometimes to profound feelings and complex ideas about themselves and the world.” Being brought up into two different cultures I think gives me the ability to view things in different perspectives or combine the two to get create my own unique view. Having been raised around the simplistic, Serbian culture but born in the busy, bustling, young society of America, I believe i get a good look at the value of the two opposing lifestyles. (Marshall 627-633)

"If you say what's on your mind in the language that comes to you from your parents and your street and friends you'll probably say something beautiful." This quote from the article reminds me of my great-grandmother. She spoke barely any English and when she spoke to me she had to combine the two to get me to understand what she was saying. Even though this Serbian/English language was completely made up I use to think it was the most interesting, soothing thing ever spoken, which no one else could speak or really understand. (Marshall 627-633)

“There is the theory in linguistics which states that the idiom of a people, the way they use language, reflects not only the most fundamental views they hold of themselves and the world but their very conception of reality.” I believe this is one of the most important things that Marshal says and I completely agree with her. I see this theory within my family and my friend’s families and even me. (Marshall 627-633)

Works Cited

Marshall, Paule. "From the Poets in the Kitchen." John Hopkins University Press Spring, 2001, Vol. 24 No. 2: 627-633. Print.

White Noise and Postmodernism

There is not a clear and defined definition of postmodernism because of the concepts, characteristics and ideas within it. However, on some sites it is defined as a term that encompasses a wide-range of developments in philosophy, film, architecture, art, literature, and culture. It was originally a reaction to modernism, used to describe the different aspects of post WW2 literature. Started around 1940s, after the modernist era, and peaked around the 1960s and 1970s. In Postmodernism there are no absolute truths, only relative truths of each person or character. Postmodernism is "post" because it denies the existence of any ultimate principles, and it lacks the optimism of there being a scientific, philosophical, or religious truth, which will explain everything for everybody. In postmodernism understanding and interpretation is everything, saying that reality only comes into being through our interpretations of what the world means to us individually (“Gengloss”).

Postmodernist Literature contains a broad range of concepts and ideas that include such factors as responses to modernism and its ideas, responses to technological advances and greater diversity of cultures that leads to cultural pluralism. One indication of a postmodern text is Patiche, when authors often combine multiple elements in the postmodern genre, like mixed media. Another one is metafiction, Writing about writing, often used to undermine the authority of the author and to advance stories in unique ways. Also, a similarity that seems common in all postmodern writing is paranoia (“Gengloss”).

White Noise is a postmodern text, even the opening chapters introduce three postmodern themes that recur throughout the novel. The power of appearances and imagery, the pervasiveness of consumerism, and the palpable but elusive presence of death in the world.

“Man’s guilt in history and in the tides of his own blood has been complicated by technology, the daily seeping falsehearted death.” This quote represents the theme of attacks on the advances of technology and growing consumerism. It’s trying to say that technology has blurred the lines between what we are and are not responsible for and it has also taken away, like Heinrich’s hairline, some essential part of our lives.

“Another postmodern sunset, rich in romantic imagery. Why try to describe it? It’s enough to say that everything in our field of vision seemed to exist in order to gather the light of this event.” In this quote it directly says postmodern. They are showing that they are another part of a postmodern world. In its never-ending repetition, making the pleasure of any individual experience impossible to convey. The sunset is spectacular and beautiful, but those qualities are diminished if its repeated everyday by other sunsets that are also spectacular and beautiful. The experience still matters, but the words that are left to describe it have been flattened out and emptied of any meaning by repetition. In the modern world, words can’t capture the sublime beauty, though romantic images can be invoked (“Sparknotes Editors”).

Works Citied

"Postmodernisn." Gengloss. Counterbalance, Web. 30 Nov 2009. .

SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on White Noise.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2005. Web. 25 Nov. 2009.

Louis Erdrich's Love Medicine

Erdrich writes in a very modern style, but in a unique way. When I read her stories I feel like she puts a lot of her self into what she writes. I feel like she truly believes in the themes, motives and spiritual content of what she is writing. Each chapter in Love Medicine is narrated by a different character, which shows the different perspectives of their society and gives a better understanding of who that character is. These stories are very often from the first-person perspective of who-ever is telling the story. However, there are five chapters that are told from a third-person perspective. The tone of the novel is very conversational, making it seem more realistic and personal. Also, it’s indicative of the traditional storytelling in Native American culture. However, it also shows a bit of the Euro-Indian experience especially through the younger generations who have been forced by government policy to accept and assimilate to Euro-American culture (“freebooknotes.com”).

The Anti-western ideas are present in the texts, but not outright culpable for the characters problems. Some of these things that she writes against the Western culture are Gordie’s extreme alcoholism, Henry Lamartine Jr.’s post-tramatic stress after war and his somewhat suicide, Nector’s affair, Gerry’s imprisonment and the need for material things, such as a red convertible. Even June’s death can be related to writing against western ideas. The only positive towards the Western culture is Albertine, who escapes the reservation and attends a University and seems to live a perfectly normal life outside of the American-Indian culture. Another big component that goes against society today is the loss of a cultural identity. Erdrich goes on to show this loss of culture between the two geneations, the new, Americanized generation with the older, cultural tribe, by saying, “They gave you worthless land to start with and then they chopped it out from under your feet. They took your kids away and stuffed the English language in their mouth.” (“Freebooknotes.com”).

Although individual Indians today vary in the extent to which they follow, and many have drifted towards western society, tribal traditions, their worldviews and values continue to reflect those of their ancestors. There are many themes in Love Medicine, which relate with this idea that American-Indian culture is still alive through the new generations. Some of these themes include abandonment, connection to land, searching for identity and self-knowledge, and survival. Also, the closeness and interconnectedness of the entire family and tribe is emphasized throughout the book. In the article Introduction to Indian Literature, they state the same themes and ideas which occur in Love Medicine, such as an emphasis on the importance of living in harmony with the physical and spiritual universe, the power of thought and word to maintain this balance, a deep reverence for the land, and a strong sense of community (Ruoff 118-198).

"Love medicine ain't what brings him back to you, Grandma. No, it's something else. He loved you over time and distance, but he went off so quick he never got the chance to tell you how he loves you, how he doesn't blame you, how he understands." I think this quote from the book shows a lot of the themes said above, such as the interconnectedness of the entire family , abandonment, identity, self-knowledge, survival and intense belief of the spiritual world.

Works Citied

"Love Medicine." Freebooknotes.com . 2006. Wikipedia, Web. 12 Nov 2009. <>.

Ruoff, A. Lavonne Brown. "Introduction to American Indian Literature." 118-198. Print.

The Poisonwwod Bible and The History of the Congo

In the Poisonwood Bible a family of missionaries travel to Kilanga, Congo to spread western ideas. Back then most missionaries thought of themselves as bringing the "pure light" of Western civilization to shine on the Congolese "darkness." There they experience the harshness of reality in Africa. The turmoil that has been constant in the Congo involves political control, power, land ownership and its resources. The natural resources and minerals that were exploited before the twentieth century are copper, diamonds, cobalt, petroleum, gold, silver, and zinc (‘World Focus’).

The Congo is Africa's third largest country and is home to many of the natural resources we use today. Minerals found in the Congo are also found in cell phones, laptops and other electronics around the world making this region a valuable place to obtain. In the book there is a political power for Congolese independence and Belgium control. In the late 1800’s, King Leopold II of Belgium declared himself the dictator and ruler of the Congo. He only had public support at home because he announced that his intent was to Christianize and modernize the Congolese region and it’s population, similar to what the Price family intentions were. When actually Leopold planned to exploit the land and force it’s people, men, women, and children for mining, especially in the ivory and rubber business (‘Countries and their Culture’). Much like the Price’s Leopold said he had good intentions, but in reality wanted to distort the Congolese society. The big difference though is that the Prices didn’t realize how they were negatively affecting Kilanga society and actually did have good intentions, unlike Leopold who knew of his plans.

In 1908, Leopold was forced to give up his rule and sell his colony to Belgium. The new Belgium government then started to focus on exploiting the land for copper, diamonds, and oil. This switch of power didn’t help the Congolese people one bit. This new rule forced men and children into hard labor, which almost destroyed traditional society in the Congo. The Poisonwood Bible takes place during the end of this Belgium rule in the Congo, when they finally obtain independence. Sadly, this rebellion leads to even more confrontation in the Congo, such as the fall of their newly elected Congolese leader and fighting between it’s own people against it’s government. An example is of Anatole and Leah’s attempts to rally justice, but Anatole just ends up being thrown in jail for speaking out against the corrupt government. (‘Countries and their Cultures’)

"In the world, the carrying capacity for humans is limited. History holds all things in the balance, including large hopes and short lives," (Sparknotes Editors). Before the arrival of Europeans and missionaries the Congolese society was organized and efficient in health, education, and trade, but in their own way. Not being able to understand this culture we send over doctors, missionaries and all sorts of people to ‘help’. Yet, what Adah says at the beginning of this paragraph is we can’t change the balance of the world. It maintains its own balance of all things, even of life and death.

Works Citied

"Democratic Republic of Congo." Countries and Their Culture. 2009. Web. 4 Nov 2009. .

"Resources in Congo." World Focus. 03 011 2008. Blogwatch, Web. 5 Nov 2009. .

SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Poisonwood Bible.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. n.d.. Web. 3 Nov. 2009

'Howl' By Allen Ginsberg

Howl by Allen Ginsberg is an extraordinary poem, whose author started off most of the post-modernism era. Allen Ginsberg wrote Howl for his own enjoyment and never assumed it would be published. So while writing this poem he said the most outrageous, scandalous things of that time that he would of never written for a crowd or audience. This is what makes the poem so interesting.

The poem has one main perspective and that is Ginsberg himself, but in a whole it is written as the perspective of the early Beat generation, which mostly consists of Allen and his friends. Perspective is defined as the identity of the narrative voice, the person through which the reader experiences the story. He uses tone, the “attitude” of the speaker conveyed through the language of the piece, to show his perspective. Ginsberg goes through a first-person narrative, but uses some third-person perspectives of the generation. There are three sections in this book that divide up Ginsberg’s perspectives and motives. In Part I he stats, “I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, dragging themselves through the Negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix. In Part II he says, “What sphinx of cement and aluminum bashed open their skulls and ate up their brains and imagination?” Finally Part III starts, “Carl Solomon! I'm with you in Rockland where you're madder than I am.” You can see the difference in tone, perspectives and themes in the three passages. Each section is extremely symbolism, the use of specific objects or images to represent abstract ideas, in its own way.

The structure of the poem is written in free verse, much like Walt Whitman. Free verse has very few distinct rules or boundaries. It is similar to blank verse in that it does not rhyme, but unlike blank verse, it is not written in iambic pentameter. The rhythm of free verse varies throughout this poem and the words flow along their own pattern, even though they don’t rhyme. An example I like from the text is, “Angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night.”

Ginsberg’s use of diction is quite captivating, it’s as if he is inventing his own words and new, exciting uses for mundane ones. To me the language creates a whole new world of images and events that are usually kept hidden. This kind of imagery is constant in Howl. I think the entire poem uses this literary device, using words to create visual and sound imagery. One sentence that sticks out to me and fits in to how I see his use of words as a new language is, “Yacketayakking screaming vomiting whispering facts and memories and anecdotes and eyeball kicks and shocks of hospitals and jails and wars.”

A lot of different things, symbols, themes and images are significant in Ginsberg’s poem Howl. I think the most significant parts of this poem are the parts the Ginsberg can directly relate with, that show his personality and life style that not many knew about. He puts everything into his poetry, no matter how personal making it truly great.

Howl is one of the few poems are really enjoyed. It brings out this raw aspect of a certain era that who thought so different from yours, but it all actuality it’s not all that different from some of the current culture. This piece of writing is truly captivating writing and quite fun to read.

The Sun Also Rises and The Avant-Garde

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway is representative of the Avant Garde movement in American Literature, which took place in the early 1900’s and is known as the Lost Generation. Robert Cohn says to Jake, “I can’t stand it to think my life is going so fast and I’m not really living it.” Near the beginning of World War I, many young adults felt their lives had no purpose or significance. Here, Cohn worries that he is unimportant and wasting his life away. This shows the discontent of the Lost Generation and how it is all in the way they perceive their world.

Avant-Garde means new and unusual or experimental ideas. Avant-garde artists wanted to go outside the normal way of looking at things. The new style was meant to bring out creativity and imagination by creating a whole new era of art in culture. The avant-garde reconstituted the accepted cultural order, valued fragments and unexpected juxtapositions, erotic, exotic, incongruous, the unconscious, the spontaneous, the primitive, and the irrational were prized (“Seacoast”). The settings in this novel take place all over beautiful, exotic locations in Europe, such as Paris and Pamplona, showing part of its Avant-Garde features. Most essentially, the avant-garde explores through aesthetic disruption and innovation the possibilities of creating new art forms and languages, which will bring forth new modes of perceiving, expressing, and acting (McNeill). In The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway says, “The end of the line. All trains finish there. They don't go on anywhere," this quote shows the style of the Avant-garde completely. It’s abstract and makes you try to imagine what Hemingway is trying to achieve.

"You're an expatriate. You've lost touch with the soil. You get precious. Fake European standards have ruined you. You drink yourself to death. You become obsessed by sex. You spend all your time talking, not working. You are an expatriate, see. You hang around cafés." Most Avant-Garde artists were expatriates, Americans living overseas in foreign countries and this reflects Hemingway’s life overseas in Paris. The avant-garde wishes to transform society and develops a critical attitude toward the dominant values of the given culture. They are determined to create new roles and values in a traditional society in order to give way to their new generation. (“Seacoast”)

"Isn't it pretty to think so? This is the last sentence in The Sun Also Rises and is a perfect ending to an Avant-Garde novel. It gives you only the surface of the story, leaving the rest up to your imagination or what you believe to be going on. The story gives you a new way to see this sort of life and keep you wondering in the end about the unfolding events. The book is about the characters and their relationship with each other and how they are defined as a person in different views or how they define themselves.

Works Citied

"The Avant-Garde." Seacost. University of Sunderland, Web. 20 Oct 2009. .

McNeill, Tony. "Avant Garde and Modernism," Seacost. 26/04/2001. University of Sunderland, Web. 17 Sept 2009. .

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Throughout the book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, the main character Janie grows through each one of her many relationships. They are what affect her the most and add to her defining personality. The first relationship you see is Janie and her grandmother, Nanny. Her Grandmother was born into slavery and dreamt of a better life for her. Nanny wants Janie to be in a secure situation before she dies, but Janie has different dreams. “The thousand sister calyxes arch to meet the love embrace and the ecstatic shiver of the tree . . .” This shows Janie want of her own life, where she is respected and seen as an equal. This ideal of love and fulfillment is at the center of Janie’s quest throughout the book.

Janie gives in to her grandmother’s wishes, not wanting to disappoint or worry her. She marries Logan Killicks, who can provide for Janie. She knows that she doesn’t love Logan but assumes that she will love him eventually. Her and Logan begin to fight and Janie says that he expects her to worship him but that she never will.

Later she meets Jody. He has big dreams and exudes possibility and freedom. Janie sees Jody as her way to reach her horizon. “Janie knew that God tore down the old world every evening and built a new one by sun-up. It was wonderful to see it take form with the sun and emerge from the gray dust of its making,” This shows Janie’s uncertainty about her fate or her decisions. She doesn’t know what to expect with running of with Jody and his dreams. Also, this shows Janie’s youthful romantic desires. She is willing to give up her secure, dull life for any form of change.

Later on, he tries to shape her into his image of the type of woman that he wants and Janie has to distance herself from her emotions to survive living with Jody’s rules. He makes her put up her hair by saying, “skeered some de rest of us mens might touch it round dat store,” showing his control over her. His power restricts her and she loses some of her strong personality. When Jody gets sick and dies Janie reasserts her identity by letting down her long hair becoming the sensual woman she was denied of from Jody.

As Janie enjoys her newfound freedom of speech, she becomes more introspective and self-aware. She then meets Tea Cake and sees that he could be her way to reach the horizon. The narrator says, “Every day after that they managed . . . to talk . . ..” this shows the respect he has for her and that their relationship is on a more intimate level Janie hasn’t experienced yet.

With Jody, silence was seen as Janie’s weakness, but now silence is becoming Janie’s strength. “They sat in company with the others . . . They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God,” This quote reflects how Tea Cake has affected Janie’s growth and strength. His presence helps her to encounter the storm boldly and survive.

Tea Cake’s death reflects how much Janie has grown as a person and how secure she has become. With this new strength she was able to save her own life instead of giving in to Tea Cake’s disoriented rage. During the trial they say, “It was not death she feared. It was misunderstanding.” Her strength has gown beyond fear and pity gossip. Now, she only wishes for recognition for her love of Tea Cake and her acquired courage. Janie realizes that suffering and sacrifice are necessary for self-discovery. In the end, Janie is “Pulling in her horizon.” She finally achieves her goal and dreams. She has found true love, which has enabled her to find her own voice.