Portrait of a Pilgrim: The Franklin

In class we have just started reading The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, who was born in 1343. Chaucer was considered the first great English poet. This story would mark the end of Anglo-Saxon literature. The Canterbury Tales was a story about a group of pilgrims who have embarked on a pilgrimage to see a shrine built or the Saint Thomas a Becket. A pilgrimage is a journey with moral or religious significance. Its not like a quest which is going somewhere to find something. In the story each pilgrim is to tell two stories there and back.  Chaucer never finished this story due to his death in 1400.

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Franklin was not a name but a title. A Franklin was a landowner but not of the nobility status. This man was of older age. He was tall, a Justice at the Sessions, he stood over the rest. He had a pale white beard. His face had a ruddy complexion which is like having rosy cheeks from being an outoorsman. During this time period this look was a look of optimism. The Franklin lived for pleasure. He was a festive man full of cheer who loved his culinary attributes. His bread and ale were the finest in the land. His house, never empty of bake-meat pies. His range of food matched that of the many seasons and for every season came a different meal. The table stood all day set for dining. One of his occupations was a county representative in Parliament, or a Member of the Shire. He always kept a dagger and a white piece of silk on his belt. "He lived for pleasure and had always done, for he was Epicurus' very son." Epicurus being a Greek philosopher that taught the goal of life is pleasure. I think Chaucer in general liked this person because nothing negative was spoken about him in the story. Only was there mentions of happiness, optimism, and a good over all social status and being.

The Aeneid

So far in "Animal Farm" I heave read to chapter four. This book had made it so obvious the this is not just a mere story but a huger hint on how society works from a governing stand point. I find it funny that the pig is at the center of things. Their flag, green for the fields of Europe and with the hooves on it symbolizing the animals is funny to me. The animals are so human the story really doesn't need the animals but it adds satire and makes people think about the real world I suppose. More or less this animal society has grown with literacy rates and the animals sort of resemble the different races.

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 In class we have moved on from the Iliad and have gone to beginning the Aeneid written by the Roman Virgil. This was the epic of Rome. This epic really made Rome what it was because every country had an epic and Rome wasn't going to be the first without. The Aeneid covers the ideals of Rome. Ideals such that society is ran through core values of strength and courage with honesty. The Iliad shows the Trojan horse as a thing of genius and that's what its praised for. But the Aeneid shows the Trojan horse as something of trickery. The Greeks shouldn't have taking glory in defeating Troy in that cowardly manor. We ended this week with the story of Dido. Dido is in a loss with herself in what to do. Her husband has since past and she finds a new man. The struggle is Dido doesn't know what is right for her. He sister Anna tries to help give guidance and comfort. The conflict is with Dido and Aeneas who wants to leave on this naval excursion. Dido thinks that killing herself will give Aeneas no choice but to stay. The class did an RWLD in which we watched two videos of theatrical versions of "Dido's Lament". Both versions show Dido's death without the use of a sword which I found interesting.

The Iliad

In my book, "Animal Farm" by George Orwell, I have read the first chapter. I'm reading an online version so obviously there are no pages. More or less these animals who talk like people have come together to stage a supposed rebellion against humans. This in mainly because they see how their owners treat them such as taking the animals possessions without much in return and also once the animal has grown old, it is then slaughtered. There's a Russian feel in this story as the word "comrade" is used often. I have heard the book references communist ideals and I now can kind of start seeing that.

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Over the past week, in class, we have gone over Greek literature. The class read the Iliad, an epic written by Homer. The story is between Hektor of Troy and Achilleus from the Achaian opposition. This story dealt with the struggles of Hektor. More or less Hektor is running from his fears which is facing Achilleus in battle. The goddess Athene comes down and convinces Hektor to stop and face Achilleus. There is an epic battle, which we read and watched from the movie Troy, where Achilleus becomes victorious. Hektor's dead body is drug back to the Achaians where no burial ritual of honor is held. Achilleus is a straight up warrior with little morals for honoring the fallen oppositions. Later in the story King Priam of Troy goes after his dead son. Priam travels to the Achaian's camp where he cheats death and meets with Achilleus. Priam opens up to Achilleus about having his son back. Seeing this Achilleus thinks about his own father and loosens up a bit leaving this warrior mentality. The values of family in the story come out during this part of the story. The Iliad shows many types of epic similes. Not metaphors, so the sentences have the words "like" or "as". An example is when Hektor wields his sword the line says, "he (Hektor) made his swoop, like a high-flown eagle who launches himself from the murk of the clouds on the flat land to catch away a tender lamb or a shivering hare."

Animal Farm.

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For this semester I have chosen to read the book, Animal Farm by George Orwell. Books do not interest me. So the only reason I chose this new book is because I heard it was about communism and that was some what interesting. Maybe its about Soviet animals. That would probably be more interesting that what the books really about. So far I have read zero pages because since spring break I have been busy with work, the Guard, and other school work. Theres just no time to read. I think NyQuil should stop making pills and just start selling books to help people sleep faster.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Free Online Book: Here

A Farewell to Arms

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In this novel there are few, if not only a couple major characters depending on ones individual opinion. There are roughly five main character in this novel. But the two that stand out and are the characters that make this novel what it is are Frederic Henry and Ms. Catherine Barkley.

Frederic Henry, the novels main character and main protagonist, is a young American soldier who at the time was serving in the Italian army. The novel takes place during the First World War. The time period he was serving in was the time during the war before major American involvement. Frederic's role in the war was an ambulance driver for the Italian front. In this novel there is really no antagonist. At least no one person is the antagonist. The war as a whole is the antagonist because the war is the main source for struggle and conflict. But if it wasn't for the war Frederic would have never met Ms. Catherine Barkley. While on some down time from the war Frederic periodically went out drinking with friends. One day he met this English nurse. The story turns from war focus to this new game of love between Frederic and Ms. Barkley. The guys always went after women but for Frederic this time seemed different and he wanted to pursue Ms. Barkley not just for seduction but for something more. Later back at the front Frederic and some soldiers he was with come under fire from enemy mortars. He's severely hit and is taken off the front and is transferred to Milan to an American ran hospital. There he misses Ms. Barkley. He meets a nurse Ms. Gage who he becomes friends with and spills his feelings too. He also meets the hag of a nurse Ms. Van Campen the superintendent. His recovery in Milan is part of the rising action. He was told he cannot be operated on for at least six months but Frederic talks to another doctor  and is operated on much sooner. To his luck Ms. Barkley is transferred to Milan and yet the love game continues and their relationship becomes more serious. Frederic plans a vacation for Ms. Barkley and himself with the medical leave given to him because of his wound. That leave was taken away though. Frederic gets sick from what Ms. Van Campen thinks is from his over excessive drinking problem. She thinks he is trying to avoid returning to the front. This is the climax. Frederic and Ms. Barkley say their goodbyes telling one another that they will see to it that they will always stay together. Frederic returns to a retreating Italian front where the atmosphere has turned chaotic with angry and confused soldiers. Frederic is brought unwillingly to some dark times and does things no man wants to ever do. Part of the falling action, his new goal was just to get back to his love Ms. Barkley.

Ms. Barkley is, in my opinion, the other main character who is seen throughout the story. An English nurse she comes from troubled times. He has lost the love of her life her late fiance. She meets meets Frederic though Frederic friend Rinaldi. Rinaldi tried his luck with seducing Ms. Barkley just to be forgotten about when she meets Frederic. She plays the love game but coming from such an emotional loss she doesn't want to be used. She spends much of her time with Frederic in doubt of his real affection towards her. But she still cares for him like Frederic was her last fiance.

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There are other minor character such as Rinaldi, who poses like the typical soldier, or wartime doctor, of World War One. Characters like the priest who are minor characters in general but are a major factor on molding who Frederic was. The priest who was commonly made fun of by others was always listened to by Frederic because he and frederic would discuss the war and the what glory there was in it.

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway is a novel written from Hemingway's own experiences during his tour during the early 1900's in Italy. The novel is from the point of view of Lieutenant Frederic Henry a young American serving with the Italians as an ambulance drive on the Italian front. Frederic meets this young English nurse, Ms. Barkley who he quickly falls in love with. He doesn't want to play the love games like most other soldiers such as his best friend Rinaldi. Frederic is lost within himself. Lost in the war and lost in the love he has created with Ms. Barkley. At one time he's trying to come to terms with himself and also trying to prove to the young nurse that he wants to become hers. Frederic hates the war. He hates the false glory that comes with way. Ettore another friend of Frederic's brags about his war medals and that angers Frederic. Later in the war Frederic is wounded by a mortar and is transferred to Milan to recover. Ms. Barkley is later transferred to Milan as well and the war becomes a thing of the past holding back for the love game that is continued between the young soldier and nurse. Frederic is tragically shipped back to the front after a misunderstood scandal with an assumption that Frederic was trying to avoid the war and to get out. His goal is to find Ms. Barkley again and to be happy with himself and to forget the war.

I rate this book a 4 out of 5. I took up much interest in the war themes. But as soon as the plot started to transfer over to a love story I stated to lose little interest. I did like how descriptive the novel was. Parts such as when Frederic goes through the mortar strike were described in much detail as if I myself was there in the chaos. I didn't feel the novel had a major story line that it was more of a biography. But needless to say I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes literary work dealing with war and personal struggle.

Folk Song Folks, Yee-Haw

We have been talking about folk songs lately just FYI. A folk song that originates in traditional popular culture or that is written in such a style. In class we have read folk songs from chinese literature too. The Chinese folk songs we read were "I Beg of you Chung Tzu" and "Thick Grow the Rush Leaves". Both songs tend to infer meanings of love towards someone. I worked with Malorie B-T-Dubs. 



"I've Been Working on the Railroad"
I've been working on the railroad
All the livelong day
I've been working on the railroad
Just to pass the time away 

Can't you hear the whistle blowing
Rise up so early in the morn
Can't you hear the captain shouting
Dinah, blow your horn 

Dinah, won't you blow
Dinah, won't you blow
Dinah, won't you blow your horn
Dinah, won't you blow
Dinah, won't you blow
Dinah, won't you blow your horn 

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah
Someone's in the kitchen I know
Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah
Strumming on the old banjo, and singing 

Fie, fi, fiddly i o
Fie, fi, fiddly i o
Fie, fi, fiddly i o
Strumming on the old banjo 



This song is from the late 1800's when the rail road was big business. It talks about all the grueling back breaking work that thousands of men did daily on the rail road. The song is like a motivator, stating the obvious hard work done by everyone. It also talks about this Dinah. Not so much a love story here. Dinah was a typical name of an enslaved black woman in those times. Dinah blowing her horn and being in the kitchen would have been a lunch call from here to the workers. Lunch was their break time and no one messes with break time. The "Fie fi, fiddly i o" was just inspirational cheering lyrics. Since these men were men and looked for the "brighter side" of working all day, some verses that involved making love with Dinah were later left out of the original song. The more you know, knowledge is power. 


"Ain't No One Got Time" by Kasey Murphy and Malorie Browning 

Feel the flames of heat as the man steps down
Yelling and forcing us to look like clowns
Communist society rebellion is here
With hypocritical rhymes that fill our ear

Ain't no one got time for trees and flowers
But everyone got time for nice long showers
It's all about you no time for two
Ain't no one got time anymore, dude 

These days isn't about you or me
It's about making your way through society
Drowning in an ocean sulking in food
Puts you in the mood to be straight up rude

Ain't no one got time for trees and flowers

But everyone got time for nice long showers

It's all about you no time for two

Ain't no one got time anymore, dude

Grenades to Kindness

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This week in my novel, A Farewell to Arms, I am on page 120. Fred has been taking some down time with some new friends at the base he's at. The topic of discussion are the medals for the number of wounds one has. Fred makes the comment that he'd rather have wound medals than other war medals. Ettore showed his medals and his wounds. He was hit my a German hand grenade (or potato masher) that blew up his foot. As an officer, Ettore carried his rifle to blend in with regular soldiers so his rank didn't stand out making him an HVT. Simmons asked what it the German was like after Ettore had shot him. He remembers taking his rifle and shooting right back at the boy who threw the grenade. Hitting the kid right in the chest fearing he'd miss his head. But he didn't stay to watch.

In class we have been studying Confucianism. The class has read The Analects. Honestly I like the concept of Confucianism. The concepts of being courteous to one another and showing general kindness and respect for people is something that todays society has lost for the most part. I like how in The Analects knowledge is used for a greater understanding of things and not something just to attain a higher social status. "The Master said, In old days men studied for the sake of self-improvement, nowadays men study in order to impress other people." -Confucius. In relation to Confucianism I wish todays society still reflected that of the society of the 1940's and so on. Working at Fareway (local grocery store) where we are a courteous business its easy to see how generations have changed. When I help out older people they seem to be nicer with more converstaion. With younger people they are much shorter and could care less if I was helping them or not.