zaremc

[zaremc]

Love and loss will forever go hand in hand. Is the love worth the loss? I think so. Is the joy that love brings you worth the pain after it ends? I think so. This world is bitter sweet. But I think in some way, that’s what makes it so special.

Kristie Betts (via wnq-writers)

[zaremc]

what i love about my piece

something that i absolutely love about the draft of my paper:

i feel very strongly about it. not always am i writing about something in class that i can feel strongly about and actually agree with. when i was reading my book, i got confused and lost a lot because of the strong diction, but i was always using aides and online interpretations to help me figure things out. they always gave their opinions on the book too, however, i never really took a stance on any topic until i was done reading. once i started reading criticisms, they brought to light even more and more ideas that i had never even thought about before and i was so excited when i found them because i actually agreed with them fully. i had an idea in my head about the insane nature of darl and how he was portrayed throughout the book, and reading some of my criticisms talking about that and explaining the strong difference between words and actions was almost a relief. when i came across those specific words too, “the strong separation and difference between what the characters say and do.” i was SOO excited to begin writing this. for once, i had actually done solid research that led me to an idea that i felt passionate about and other’s saw that too. i felt like my paper could possibly be something great. as i’ve been writing, i’ve fallen deeper into the chasm of thinking about this idea. i never thought i would actually enjoy writing this (simply because of all the talk about how hard this assignment can be). i most definitely have. while i am about half way done i’d say (or all caught up to where i am supposed to be) i feel so strongly about what i have written. i am excited to share my ideas and my feelings with my reader. one of the best feelings is finding evidence in your actual book that backs up your claim so perfectly. i actually wrote and annotated 5 portions and had to slim them down because everything seemed so fitting. i can’t wait to keep writing the bulk of this piece and see where it takes me because from where i am now, i cannot wait to keep writing:) 

[zaremc]

writing my draft!

When I started writing my draft for my paper in class, I really felt like I had a good topic and book that I enjoyed writing about. Since I bring my laptop to class, I am able to write a substantial amount of my paper in class. I feel good about the topic that I chose and the stuff I choose to focus on. When I first started writing the literary review, I really felt like my topic was strong. Since a lot of my criticisms focused on the idea of the separation between words and actions, I focused on that aspect. I also included within that idea that it is mainly seen through Darl and his characterization. As I continued with this theme and idea, I realized how strong and prominent it is throughout my book. It is such a strong claim and I am excited to keep working with it!!

[zaremc]

reading my sources- 3

My third source I think was the most different and profound. It was mainly about evaluating all the characters and their decisions and talking a lot about the difference between words and actions. The actions people performed in the book were completely different from the words they said. They also acknowledged this in themselves. Darl and Addie were on one side of the spectrum displaying only their emotions with their words and never with actions. They both had a hard time deciding how to go about portraying their emotions with their actions. Anse, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. He couldn’t quite explain how he felt but he was able to act accordingly in certain situations. This interesting comparison was super prevalent in the book and I recognized that, so I was glad to see the actual phrase “words versus emotions or actions” because it validated the conclusion that I drew. Overall this third source was a complete step in the right direction because I was able to see where the author drew these conclusions from and why. It was very similar to my thinking and probably my most relatable source.

[zaremc]

It’s all hooped up! My friend loves it and immediately decided to name it Geoff. He now has a nice little spot on her uni room windowsill. So everybody…meet Geoff. My favourite piece of work to date🦒

[zaremc]

reading my sources- 2

This second source was a lot like my first, so there isn’t a whole book to write about it. I simply agreed as well. Darl’s character is a highly renowned literary mystery that many people write about to try and solve or explain. People are constantly coming up with new methods about his madness in an attempt to try and explain why he acts the way he does. Personally, I think that Faulkner relates to him. Darl has a hard time connecting the dots between experiences and is incredibly similar to his mom, who sees words and actions with such a contrast that it’s almost not human. It’s not necessarily healthy. Darl is the same way, but to a more extreme extent. I think Faulkner wrote Darl the way he did because he understands his mindset. I also think it’d be hard to write about it if he didn’t. Making someone seem realistically crazy cannot be easy to do, you have to connect the dots to not make sense in a way that makes sense, and Faulkner does that incredibly well. I gather from this that Darl is a complex literary figure and I like reading about how people think his mindset works. It’s  intriguing. He simply is a mentally unstable person who is somehow able to see events and tell them incredibly accurately without being present and someone who relates to words and actions in their separate endeavors but cannot but them together. This is why he has such a hard time reacting to his mom’s death too, because words can describe that he’s sad, but his actions function completely separate from that loss. It’s super interesting. A very weird character to say the least. Good thing all the criticisms about him are about as crazy as my theories (and him LOL)

[zaremc]

reading my sources- 1

On Sunday I read my first source and I wrote this blog but my wifi was down so I’m posting it no, but my first source was really an interesting experience for me to read. I used a source that specifically talked about Darl a lot. When I was reading, Darl’s character would confuse me. He would switch point of views in the middle of his passages and he would say and do unexplainable things and in the end, his family sent him away (which I found out through this source that it was to an insane asylum?) I always questioned the weird motives that were behind Faulkner to create such a controversial character. I was able to see another person’s point of view and realize that there are a lot of deeper meanings in the book and the plot line is not the main focus of the book. The plot is actually quite boring. It is the meaning and the things you learn from the characters and their decisions and words that gives the book value and worth. This was a completely understandable perspective for me and I related to it a lot. I definitely saw that when I was reading and I was glad someone else could acknowledge that too. 

I also liked specifically that this criticism (and the other two as well) talk about Faulkner too. I think it’s so important to really think about the author and his literary decisions when talking about the evaluation of a character. Often times I find that in discussions, people think like “Oh my character decided to do this or that” without realizing the character was in fact, written by someone else altogether and does not possess a mind of his/her own. I liked that I felt like my opinion on that was validated through this piece as well. 

[zaremc]

research:’)

The other day I went to the library at OU to find my sources of literary criticism for this project and honestly I would rate the experience like a 9/10. The one negative part was that it was raining and we didn’t go to the correct building at first so I had wet socks the whole time but that’s beside the point. We first went to the front desk and the nice man gave us a card to use to get wifi access, then we simply searched for our sources on the computer. I had a lengthy list of about 13 sources going into it, so I went through my list and found out which ones were books and which were journals. I downloaded all the journals to the computer before adding them to my drive and then I made a list of all the books and where to find them. I then went up a floor with Zach and Jada and they both helped me find some of my books. I had narrowed down the list of books to four really good ones and so I searched for those. The library makes everything so easy on library virgins. I literally have never stepped foot in a library other than in elementary school and I found that everyone was so sweet and people followed the rules and it was so easy for me to ask questions and find answers. I was really proud of us three for figuring out how to do most things without causing too much commotion. After finding my books, I looked at all my sources and I decided to print out the journals at home but make copies of two of the books specific sections that interested me to take home. I also had extra journals saved on my drive just in case these sources didn’t work out. Then I went back downstairs where my trusty boyfriend Zach helped me copy my book pages (and he even paid the 10 cents a page for me! Wow!) which was a huge help since the copy machine we used had a lot of funky settings. It was honestly a good experience. I told Jada when I was there that I felt super motivated in that environment. I can get distracted easily, but being there and having so much knowledge from incredible people and a space to collaborate in really inspired me. I actually put in a heck ton of work into deciding my sources and picking the ones that actually interested me. Because of this trip, I’ve been able to get super into this project. I feel invested in my own ideas and I feel interested in what other people have to say about them. 

[zaremc]

http://www.personal-quotes.com

[zaremc]

as i lay dying- influences

Influence: James Joyce and Virginia Woolf (Stream of Consciousness Writing Technique)

The last influence I was able to find for “As I Lay Dying” was the idea that the different perspectives and their way of telling their tales was stream of consciousness writing. I found that James Joyce and Virginia Woolf both used this technique before Faulkner and it worked incredibly well. It is assume that Faulkner used stream of consciousness writing because it obviously worked so well. It also helped that Faulkner wrote this book in a matter of six weeks, so it’s easier to write as things come to you in a more laid back fashion that worked for authors before him. This method clearly works and helps produce novels that are very prestigious in literature, and Faulkner decided to give it a try! He was heavily influenced by these other two authors that he used this method in his own storyline, helping it gain the success it deserves. 

[zaremc]

as i lay dying- influences

Influence- The Stock Market Crash (October 24, 1929)

As I began to do research on where/when/why/how the book was written once I concluded it, I found a lot of things detailing that Faulkner wrote the book in six weeks and didn’t edit it at all. While the editing portion isn’t completely true, since things changed and eventually to get published, it underwent some editing, the fact that he indeed started writing the book the day after the stock market crash is true. Faulkner spent six weeks working on this book around his actual work schedule and was so proud of the finished product and how real and raw it was, that he chose not to edit it. It is also said that his inspiration behind the book was the fact that he lived in the rural south and enduring the stock market crash from that environment was grueling enough to inspire him to write a book about the troubles of living in the deep south during this time period. Essentially, the struggles he endured during the stock market crash inspired him to write this book, not about the crash itself, but about the struggles that one faces during hardships in this given location. 

[zaremc]

as i lay dying

A little bit ago I finished my book! Once I got towards the end, I couldn’t put it down. This book was honestly an incredible piece of literature and I can see why it is highly praised. While the storyline wasn’t the most interesting I’ve ever read, it was very powerful to see Faulkner’s moves and try and understand why he made them. It was such a cool thing to see the story develop along with the characters and see how Faulkner used his writing skills to shape them. I did actually like finding out more about Dewey Dell as time went on and I also liked reading Cash’s storyline because of his leg. Darl was another interesting character to me because he was very intellectual and thoughtful while the other characters seemed one sided and narrow minded. I also thought Anse was an incredibly interesting character, for some of the only character development he endured was us finding out that all he really wanted was to bury his wife where she wanted, because he promised her he would. As the book went on, I actually got frustrated because I felt for the characters and I was becoming frustrated on their behalf for the fact that they were literally running around town with their mother in a coffin and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t seem to find any luck in getting her to her desired grave any sooner. In the end, I really enjoyed this book. Definitely recommend if you are able to appreciate the actual literature behind a book as opposed to just an interesting storyline. 

[zaremc]

as i lay dying

Something that has attracted my attention being almost done with the book is Dewey Dell and her storyline. i really am interested in the motive behind including her story. In the beginning, I was confused as to why she is constantly talking sensually, and I think it was hinting at the idea that she was pregnant. Going on, it details that she wanted to go to the drugstore and use the $10 Lafe gave her for an abortion (?). As she goes to the first drugstore, I realized what was happening and why she had made the cakes and carried them around in the package. I started to piece things together. She never came out and explained that she wanted an abortion, and the guy at the second drugstore I am almost positive took advantage of her. I am just confused as to why it seems like half of her story is detailed, leaving the rest unfinished and me wondering what happens next. I looked ahead, and there are no more Dewey Dell sections in the book. I just don’t understand why this entire portion was included when the rest of the book is about nothing relating to this. Also, as I understood, her dad took the $10 Lafe gave her, so how did she pay for the medicine from the doctor? It’s possible I am not understanding exactly what’s happening, but from what I gather, her story seems unfinished. 

[zaremc]

http://www.personal-quotes.com

[zaremc]

as i lay dying- influences

Towards the second half of the book, I started to come across a great deal of references to the Bible. Not actual verses referenced in the text, but situations referring to religion and being a Christian. Cora’s character is incredibly religious and she has a great affect on Addie. Addie’s portion talks a lot about sin and stuff relating to religion like that. A very powerful sentence is Addie stating that sinning is often times just words or actions, and repentance is the same thing. Just words being spoken into thin air. Her views on religion are interesting and I wish we were able to see more of the religious perspective from her and maybe her kids a little bit. Anse offers some types of religious opinions, but not many. I think touching on religion a few times really sparked my interest in how Faulkner decided to relate it to the storyline and incorporate it into different characters. 

Because of these references and the Editor’s Note containing specific Bible verses that were influencing the writing, the Bible is definitely a direct influence on the book. Faulkner must’ve known that he was directly correlating certain portions to ideas from the Bible and done so for a reason. All I know is that religion becomes a growing influence in the book and the writing. The topic begins to come up constantly. 

[zaremc]

as i lay dying

I came across a chapter narrated by Darl, one of Addie’s sons, and I just am confused on the literary moves. Certain phrases and sentences are italicized and I cannot seem to find a trend between them. I hope to try and figure out why this may be; I feel as if it could have some significance. I don’t think Faulkner would do that for no reason. I am interested to see if this continues (I had noticed it before) and if so, what it means.

[zaremc]

as i lay dying

Today I got a lot further in my book and I came across the section narrated by Addie, the mother and the one who is dying in the book. She spoke a lot about death. Her portion tells the story of her communications with her incredibly religious neighbor Cora. She details their conversations and she talks a lot about sin. In growing up and meeting her husband and having her kids, she explains how she sins so regularly and how she hates her dad for giving her life because all she is going is preparing to die. She focuses a lot on how her life is just the journey to her death. When I first started reading this book, I didn’t know what to expect. But getting through this portion of Addie’s story makes me really think about the purpose of this book. It is about so much more than just the journey to her grave physically, but mentally too. Addie started dying long before she physically died. She seemed dead inside almost, because she was so prepared to die and everything she did was wrapped around the idea that she was dying slowly every day and with sinning. It is a very interesting idea that I am glad they detailed in her portion. It gives a lot of meaning to the title as well.