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And finally, the Truth is...

The other day in class, I asked you all to define "Truth".

What a ridiculous question.

As soon as you figure it out, let me know, and I'll book you a spot on The View. Until then, let's deal with a more manageable question:




Based on your reading of Cat's Cradle, how does Vonnegut lead us to view truth?

And here's the kicker. The first three people to post, only need to answer the question. All posters after that need to answer the question and specifically respond to another poster's thoughts.

Try not to respond only to your buddies; respond to comments that you have something to say about. This blog assignment WILL be graded. Be thoughtful; be smart. AND WARNING: I wouldn't even try this until you've finished the book!

On poets behaving badly...

Here are some jobs that Bukowski had in his life: dishwasher, truck driver and loader, mail carrier, guard, gas station attendant, stock boy, warehouse worker, shipping clerk, post office clerk, parking lot attendant, Red Cross orderly, and elevator operator. He also worked in a dog biscuit factory, a slaughterhouse, a cake and cookie factory, and he hung posters in New York City subways. He drank a lot, until he developed a bleeding ulcer. He was tortured. How do you think his poem "the trash men" connects with Kafka's story, "A Hunger Artist"?

Hungry like a panther...

You probably don't get the Duran Duran reference, but anyway...

Good discussion today. I'm curious to see whether any of you will change your classifications after we finish dissecting "A Hunger Artist" tomorrow. To that end, please post a short (one sentence) answer to each of the following questions:
1. What might be admirable about fasting?
2. What might be admirable about a panther?
Thanks!

Introduction to Poetry...

We read Billy Collins' "Introduction to Poetry" today as inspiration as we begin to beat literature with a rubber hose.  In the poem, Mr. Collins describes all the different ways he wishes his students would read poetry.  Your homework is to write a metaphor or a simile that describes how YOU read poetry.  Please submit your work as a comment to this post.

Out in the world!

Hooray to Samantha, Rosalba and Travis D. (our newest class member) for attending the Junot Diaz reading!  Guys, please email me some of your pics so I can post them here. 

How about that Junot Diaz?

Have you read "Homecoming, with Turtle" yet? If so, let me know what you think.

Love it?
Like it?
Hate it?
How does it work as a story? Does it remind you of anything else you've read? What point does it make?

Please make a comment. Since the story's only three pages long, and since it's the first week of school, I'm figuring you'll all read it, just to make a good impression. If you want to read more Junot Diaz stories, click on this link and knock yourself out.

PS - Cheers to Elias for being the first to comment on our blog!