Old Ironsides Analysis

Literal Meaning:

The first stanza speaks of the importance of the ship’s flag and how long the ship has been in use.
Take down the ships flag. It has flown for a long time and many have danced to see it flying in the sky. Under it the shout of battle and the firing of cannons could be heard, and the meteor of the ocean air will not be in the sky any longer.

The second stanza simple tells the story of how the ship has been used in battle and many lives have been lost on it; both foes and crew members of it.
On the ships deck, the blood of heroes has been shed, but also the defeated enemy has knelt in the same spot. When the winds are strong and the waves are high and white tipped, no one will feel or know of the vanquished foe. The monsters of the sea shall destroy the eagle of the sea.

The final stanza explains how the ship will be destroyed.
It ends in a mighty storm with the ship sinking to the bottom of the sea. If the ship’s hulk is to be shattered and sink beneath a wave, the ship should find its grave in the mighty deep that it had shook. The ships flag should be nailed to the mast when the sails have been set for the ship to be given to the God of storms.


Poetic Devices:

One poetic device used in this poem is imagery; particularly in the final stanza. The vivid language used allows the reader to actually picture the final storm that leads to the demise of the ship. A description of the large waves and strong winds gives the reader an understanding of how much it actually takes to destroy the ship. At the same time, this section of the poem uses the poetic device of personification and metaphors. “When winds were hurrying o’er the flood and waves were white below…” This line describes the winds hurrying and describes how the waves were respectively. The meter used in this poem is iambic with the repetition of stresses and unstressed syllables. There is an occurrence of simple rhymes every other line starting with the second line. One other poetic device used is the separation of the poem into stanzas. Each one describes the ship in different aspects. The first two describe how much the ship has done and how long it has been sailing and the last one describes the demise of the ship.


Figurative Meaning:

The first stanza’s figurative meaning is simply that of the importance of the ship. To the many that have “danced to see that banner in the sky,” this ship is a symbol of freedom. The final line of this stanza states that the ship will no longer use its weapons anymore. The second stanza has a little deeper meaning. The ship is a place where many lives has been lost and will serve as a memorial to all of the patriots that served on it. The final lines are really used to show how great the ship was and that its memories and the ideas that it represented will live on forever, even if the actual body of the ship are lost at sea.

Romantic Poem

There is one place that makes me think that I
can be myself without the world to care
about. I find it to be plain, yet dark,
but it lets me become one with myself
without a doubt. Simple and full of all
the things that make the world seem seem to
be less evil, and more of what we all
can be peaceful and more happy. If you
want to go to this place, you need not go
but to go to where all of nature grows.

Analysis of Thanatopsis

When analyzing this poem literally, it is actually quite simple. The main message is of how everyone dies and becomes a part of the earth. It starts by saying that nature is a beautiful peaceful place that talks to everyone. It says when you have thoughts about death; you need to go into nature and after a few days you will die. You will return to the Earth and mix with all of the elements. The roots of an oak tree will pierce your body. You will not go to this resting place alone, and there could not be a better one for you. You will be among all different types of people like the rich, the powerful, or the wise. The poem then states that all of the beauty in nature is the decorations for mankind’s grave. The number of people that are on the planet doesn’t even compare to the number that has returned to the natural world. Take the wings of morning or you will become lost and only be able to hear your own footsteps. It asks, when you die if anyone will notice that you are gone. Everyone will die eventually, though some may laugh, eventually they will join you in rest. One by one all of the people of the world will gather by your side. It closes by saying to live your life, but when your time comes, go to your grave and lie down to pleasant dreams.

One of the important poetic devices used in this poem is imagery. This is used for the description of the nature of the world. “The hills rock-ribbed and ancient as the sun; the vales stretching in pensive quietness between; the venerable woods—rivers that move in majesty, and the complaining brooks that make the meadows green…” This specific line really creates a vivid nature as the author describes the decorations to man’s grave. The separation of the poem into stanzas is a poetic device that really aids in the separation of the main thoughts of Bryant; these being the tomb that is the Earth, the people that will join you in death, and how you should live life. Another poetic device that is used quite often throughout the poem is similes. In the previous quote, Bryant compares the age of the hills to that of the sun. Another example of a simile is when the poem reads, “…when thoughts of the last bitter hour come like blight over thy spirit…”

Overall this poem has a very interesting and almost intellectual figurative meaning. It says that one should know that eventually everyone on the planet will die. All of us share the common tomb that is the Earth, and in death there is no meaning to social class or things done or accomplished. People shouldn’t spend their time thinking about death, but when it is their time, they need to accept the fact that they are going to die to be able to rest peacefully and have pleasant dreams.

Journal 17 Nature and Me

There have been a few times in my life where I have bonded with nature. Usually this happens during vacations for me because Illinois isn't exactly the most scenic area in the entire world. Whenever my family goes somewhere on the coast, I like walking on the beach and just sitting and looking at the water. Sometimes I also play guitar, acoustic of course outside on the beach. I don't even have to be anywhere on vacation to do this. I sometimes just go outside on my porch at home when its nice outside during the summer. I believe that music is very important and that it should be around us as much as possible. One time for vacation, instead of going to a coastal place we went to Colorado. We went to many different areas, some very urban, but also some very rural, secluded areas. It was at the secluded areas that I really bonded with nature. There were so many beautiful places and sights. All of them were simply natural beauty, which is what makes it so amazing. It is so easy to be in a state of awe when you're somewhere that is filled with natural beauty. We went hiking on a mountain and just all of the trees were amazing, but later we found a spot with this sweet waterfall. There was a little cavern on the inside of it, so we were able to stand behind the waterfall and lookout at everything with a mist covering the view. It was quite spectacular. Although I do love going to the beach and being at the ocean or the gulf of Mexico, going to Colorado was one of my more memorable vacations just because it was so different. I was able to see many sights that I had never experienced before which just made it all the better. It was most definitely one of my most important times that I bonded with nature.

Journal 16 My favorite guitar

In my possession I have five guitars. I have one Ibanez, a Silvertone, a Yamaha, a non branded acoustic, and then my most favorite one. My baby is a 2008 Mexican Fender Sunburst Stratocaster. It is a beautiful machine. I probably spend most of my time playing this guitar. I started with my Yamaha acoustic and then I decided I wanted to try an electric guitar. I bought my Ibanez for about one hundred dollars, and after a couple months playing, I knew I wanted something better. There were many guitars that I liked when I went shopping for one, but the Strat just stuck out to me. I knew that it was right for me so I got it. It wasn't really the most unique guitar to buy, but it is a classic and just a solid guitar to start with. After years of playing it, it has gotten a little beat up. On the back there is a huge scratch from a screwdriver when I was working on it a little. All along the sides there are dents and scratches from me hitting it on my amp and the other furniture in my room. I tuned the pickups to where I wanted them myself, and I clean and restring it myself. It has truly become my guitar. When I was taking lessons, my instructor told me that all of the dents and dings that accumulate on a guitar are what make it your own. There is no other Strat in the world with the exact same scratches and imperfections that mine now has. To accompany my favorite guitar, I have a Vox amp. I got this amp because of many recommendations from other musicians. All Vox amps have a great effects generator built in. I don't really need an effects pedal when I play at home because everything can be done through my beast of a machine amp. These are both of my favorites of my musical instrument collection.

Journal 15 Logic and Reason Usage

There are many different places and times that I use reason and logic. One example is in school. When working through problems in many different science classes like AP Chemistry, Physics, and Digital Electronics, which is an engineering course. Physics is one subject that focuses basically all around logic. All of the math that we deal with in the subject is simple algebra, but to be able to reach the point of solving for simple math, you have to be able to understand the theory behind it. Another time that I use logic is in simple everyday situations. If someone comes up to me and asks if I would like to join them in the jumping off of a bridge or cliff sort of thing. At first, of course I would say thank you for the invitation, but there is no logic in doing that. It would be a really cool feeling to jump off because eventually you would reach freefall and it would feel like you weigh absolutely nothing. One has to realize that after that though, you would have to hit the ground, and that would hurt quite a bit. This even relates back to using logic and reason in physics, because reaching freefall takes about fifty feet. When you think about it, rationalism is all around us. We use it all of the time in all aspects of our everyday lives. Logically I know that I still have about one hundred words left in this blog. Reason tells me that I need to continue to write to reach the required limit so that I can obtain the grade I want for this blog post. Logic tells me that it will help my grade in English class so I must continue to write. After this sentence I will be extremely close to the limit for this blog. Simple reasoning tells me that I will need to stop writing so that I can do other things with my life.

Thomas Paine's Common Sense

Through Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, it is clear that he found many flaws in the monarchy governmental system. He argues that a government’s sole purpose is to protect its people’s lives, liberty, and property (Paine). This leads him to speak about the corruption and flaws in a monarchy. He also makes the point that “A government of our own is our own natural right” (Paine). He uses these concepts to make a basis of comparison of Great Britain’s past to how the government of the colonies should be set up.


When Paine speaks of the monarchy of Britain, he states that through the entire time of its ruling, there have been many corrupt kings. He does admit that there have been good rulers, but there are too many bad ones to truly believe that the ruling is just overall (Paine). This is a problem that all governments, and even on a more simple level, organizations, have; at some point or another, a ruler will want more power. It is part of human nature to have a desire for absolute power and control. This is what creates one of the major flaws in the monarchy of Great Britain.


Another way that Paine supports his thoughts is through a comparison of a king to a lion. He says that nature disproves the idea of hereditary rights of kings because all too often, there is an “ass for a lion” (Paine). The simple use of a comparison of something from nature is extremely effective, because of its simplicity. Most of the time, a very simple means of arguing a point is actually the most effective overall, and Thomas Paine seems to understand this. There will always be times where there are bad leaders as there are times when there are bad leaders simply in nature with other animals.


Another way that Paine supports his ideas is through a historical reference to Thomas Anello, a fisherman from Naples that became king in a day (Paine). Like use of a simple comparison from nature, the use of historical events to support an idea are extremely effective. He supports his idea that having a government is the right of all human beings. He says that all men, when thinking of human affairs will realize that it is wise for there to be a constitution to govern (Paine). He relates the story of Thomas Anello by saying that situations like that must be omitted because there are always obscurities in what happens to a society or government.


Thomas Paine’s Common Sense presents many ideas about the government and overall state of colonies. He presents many ideas about how corrupted the monarchy of Great Britain. In this article, Paine supports his ideas in many different ways. He uses the simple statement of the flaws of the British Monarchy, a comparison to the natural world, as well as historical references. All of these methods are extremely effective in supporting the concepts and ideas about the government and society of the colonies.





Works Cited

Paine, Thomas. "Common Sense." Archiving Early America. Online. 17 Oct. 2010. .

Reflection of Lemay's Criticism of Franklin's Autobiography

I found many of the concepts presented in J. A. Leo Lemay’s “Franklin's Autobiography and the American Dream” to be very interesting and insightful. This criticism really brought some ideas together and connected many ideas about Franklin’s life and his autobiography. Four major parts of the American Dream including: the rise to wealth, the rise to importance, the effect of individuals on the world and the worlds effect on them, and lastly how people believe their actions will effect the world (Lemay, J.A. Leo) and their surroundings all are very rationalistic in nature. The concepts and ideas analyzed in this criticism really relate Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography to the concepts of rationalism.


The criticism stated that the rise to riches shown in Franklin’s autobiography was not particularly important in an overall standpoint (Lemay, J.A. Leo). Lemay backed this up by saying that Franklin kept the focus away from his economic gains and only a few times boasted of his wealth and prosperity (Lemay, J.A. Leo). Though this may be true, I think that it is more important to the American Dream than it is given credit for. This is because the idea of rags to riches life is something that everyone has always dreamed about. Sure, Franklin did not focus on it, but it is a part of the American Dream that is more important in other stories.


The second point that Lemay confronts is that of the rise from impotence to importance, from dependence to independence, and from helplessness to power (Lemay, J.A. Leo). This is probably one of the most important topics of the American Dream. It is quite similar to the rise to riches, but it reaches a more personal and inner level. This is why I found that the rise to riches actually is more important than it was given credit for in Lemay’s criticism; because in all reality it is simply the idea of personal rise in a material sense. It may seem superficial to consider that a major part of the American Dream, but we truly do live in a material society.


Another topic that Lemay analyzes is how the world effects and individual and how an individual can effect the world (Lemay, J.A. Leo). This is a very rational concept presented by Franklin in his autobiography. Rationalists believe that there is a reason for everything and that reason should be used to explain things. It only makes sense that they would think that people have an impact on what happens in the world. With the rise in democracy during the time there is a prime example in that members of a society can determine how they are governed through the election of officials.


The final concept of the American Dream that Lemay spoke about is how people’s actions will affect the world (Lemay, J.A. Leo). This is similar to the previous section on how an individual can affect the world. Lemay stated that how the world worked was determined by the government, thinkers, and average people or lack there of. This is an idea that relates in a sense that all of those things are created by individuals, therefore, having a direct impact on society and the world as a whole.
The parts of the American Dream that Lemay analyzed through the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin are all extremely evident as parts of rationalism and the overall persona of Franklin. This criticism connected many concepts and ideas with excellent support.



Works Cited


Lemay, J.A. Leo. "Franklin's Autobiography and the American Dream." InThe Renaissance Man in the Eighteenth Century. Los Angeles: William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, 1978. Quoted as "Franklin's Autobiography and the American Dream." in Bloom, Harold, ed. The American Dream, Bloom's Literary Themes. New York: Chelsea Publishing House, 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=1&iPin=BLTTAD005&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 13, 2010).

Journal 14 Declaration of Doughnuts

We the people, in order to have a more tasty breakfast, establish flavors, provide a delicious snack, promote drinking of milk, and secure the blessings of fryers to ourselves and our milk glasses; do hereby ordain and establish this constitution for the doughnut eaters of America.

The first rule of doughnuts is that you do not talk about doughnuts.
The second rule of doughnuts is that you DO NOT talk about doughnuts.
The third rule of doughnuts is that if someone says "no more" the breakfast is over.
The fourth rule of doughnuts is only two glasses of milk per doughnut.
The fifth rule of doughnuts is one doughnut at a time.
The sixth rule of doughnuts is no shirts no shoes.
The seventh rule of doughnuts is breakfast will last as long as it has to.
The eight rule of doughnuts is your first doughnut you have to eat it all.

Along with the original rules on how to go about eating there are also rules about how doughnuts have to act. Doughnuts are to be delicious at all times. Some sort of topping such as icing and or sprinkles must be on the top of it at all times. Although the topping is required, filling is an option. Usually it makes each doughnut better, but in some situations or combinations, the doughnut can actually become less delicious.

There are all sorts of different doughnuts. Some are circles, some are ovals, and some are even rectangular ovals. They are commonly known as long johns. The shape doesn't really matter to me, because they are all delicious. There are also doughnut holes, which are quite yummy in the right situation. I remember my first doughnut hole. It completely blew my mind. Before I had no idea what happened to the little middle part of each circular doughnut and then I found out that it was made into the little delicious snack that I have now come to love.

Journal 13 Spirit

Spirit is a word. It is spelled, S, P, I, R, I, T. It is something that a lot of people have. Mainly for their schools. I always think about one cheer that I have heard many a time. It goes: We've got spirit yes we do, We've got spirit. How about you? I think this is a very clever cheer and it really articulates the idea that each respective team or school has spirit. The cheer is completed by the other team saying the same thing back to the other fan section. I think its really nice that each team can show their support in a creative way, but also respectfully. Personally, I believe I have a lot of school spirit. I really enjoy participating in spirit week activities and supporting my schools various sports teams. As an athlete, I know that having the support of fans really can help out in a game, and can even effect the outcome of the game at least a little bit. I really just need to talk about something now because I don't want to have to worry about this blog over homecoming weekend as homework. I guess that shows some school spirit by me doing this because I would rather support my school and have fun than do a blog for homework for english class. Now I really just rambling because I want to get the needed word count for this blog. I am about done. I haven't counted the words yet, but I know I am getting close. Maybe a couple more sentences and I should be done. I guess I will check the word count now. I only have two hundred and seventy seven words. That is kind of close, but there is still a while before I reach my final goal of three hundred and twenty five words for the blog. With this final sentence I believe that I will reach the required word count that I need for the blog for today.

Journal 12 Working With a Partner

Working with a partner is one thing that I have a lot of experience with. I enjoy it a lot and there is one story that happened to me that I always think about when I think about working with a partner or teamwork in general. Over the summer I went to Africa for a summer job. I took my friend Matt to work with because I thought that we would have fun working together. I had already done some work as a freelance mercenary for a couple summers previously but there was always a lot of work for one person. This is why I thought I would benefit from having an extra person to take some of the work load off of myself. Our first job was to destroy a small village in South Africa. In this village was the leader of the rival organization that we were working for at the time. We went in and did our job but as we were leaving we came across a small child of about sixteen years of age. He told us his name was Kirk and that he had been taken captive. We thought that we should take him back to America with us at the end of the summer. We had to be smuggled out of the country because we were taken in illegal in the first place. While Matt distracted the guard with his amazing good looks, I was able to take little Kirk onto the cargo hold of the plane that was going to take us back home. This was some of the best teamwork that I have ever seen in my days. I think that this quality of working well with others will rub off on little Kirk because since we have raised him, we have always displayed good teamwork. Now all three of us are back in the states, living happily and attending Pleasant Plains High School. Specifically Mr. Langley's English 332 class.

Journal 11 Ethics/ Values

Well I don't really feel like talking about ethics or values, so I'll talk about something else. The other weekend I went to see Weezer live. The show was in Peoria at the auditorium on Bradley’s campus. It was a pretty great time. I went with Kirk, Luke, Dylan, and Simon. We went to dinner at Avanti's before the show and it was quite delicious. I had some chicken alfredo that I enjoyed a lot. After that we went to the show. We were a little early so we had to sit around for a while but it wasn't to long of wait. The opening band came out and started to play. Their first song was okay and then after they finished it they explained how they were a small band from Chicago. They played like seven songs and I really only like one of them which kind of sucked. After they were done Weezer got on the stage and started with Buddy Holly. It was so amazing. They played a lot of songs from the Blue Album, which was great because that's my favorite album of theirs. Some of the songs that they played I now like a lot just because of how well they played them live. I had never really liked the song Surf Wax America, but when they played it, I found it to be a great song. They played a cover of Kids by MGMT with a mix of Poker Face by Lady Gaga. Both are really good songs originally but I absolutely loved the way that Weezer played them. During the song Beverly Hills, the lead singer Rivers walked around the entire auditorium. He ended up coming right behind where our seats were. I have pictures on my phone and I’m like right next to him. Dylan actually touched him which is pretty exciting. This was actually the first show for a major band that I had ever been to and overall it was a great experience. I definitely want to see some more bands live because it really changed my entire perspective on Weezer as a whole.