Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Alyssa's Literary Moments
A childhood friend [Personal Literature]
When I was around 8 or 9 years old, I came home from Barnes and Noble with A Little Princess in my arms. As I read, I found that I could connect with Sara Crewe more than I had with Amelia from Amelia Bedelia or any of the Littles from the book series. I felt that Sara and I, much like Sara and Emily in the book, had some kind of special connection and friendship. Since then I have carried Sara Crewe around with me from house to house and from home to school. She has become one of my very good friends.
Girl meets reality [Cinematic Literature]
In 2011, my mom and I went to go see The Help in the dollar theater near our home. My mom had read the book, as had I, and we were excited to see how it all played out on screen. As the story unfolded before our eyes, I could feel a greater connection not only to the characters in the film, but also to that particular time in our history. To see the people and events come to life before my eyes in a very real and almost visceral way impacted me in a similar way. After the film, I came to understand that the world is a much more complex place than I had previously supposed.
Happy birthday, Mom [Literary Letter]
Sometime in my late childhood/early teen years, I decided that instead of buying gifts for birthdays and Christmas and other occasions, I would write a poem tailored to the person I was writing for. These poems became love letters of a kind, especially when they were written to my family members. I wrote one of these poems for my Mom on her birthday, in it describing all of the wonderful things about her that I knew from experience or stories and imbuing all the love I had for her. This was the one gift that made her cry.
An unexpected poetic line [Religious Literary Experience]
During the year that we studied the Book of Mormon in seminary, I strove to faithfully do my scripture reading every day. Early on in that experience, I remember reading the eighth chapter of 1 Nephi, when Lehi is describing his exceptional vision of the tree of life. At the start of that episode, he describes a “large and spacious field” that stands near the iron rod leading to the tree of life “as if it had been a world.” In my 16-year-old mind, that last line was the “most poetic scriptures I have ever read.”
Lord of the---not---Rings? [Discussing Literature]
One of the main complaints about high school English classes is that students are compelled to read books that are too old, too thick, and too full of hidden meanings that completely destroy any hope of actually enjoying the book. When my sophomore class read Lord of the Flies, I hoped for something better. As it turns out, I discovered while reading this book that the thinly veiled imagery and allusions and metaphors actually did help me to better understand the novel, or at least make a connection to my own store of knowledge. As we talked about what we found in class, the discussions centered around the possible allegorical nature of the novel, and we all walked away more satisfied than we expected.
Girl meets reality part II [Literary Coping]
The transition from mission to home is a difficult one, and it was no less difficult for me. I relied on structure and consistency, and it seemed like my entire framework of living had been knocked to the ground. My friend gave me a copy of The Alchemist when I came home, and I devoured it in two days. It was the best gift anyone has given me. In its pages I discovered the truth that change is the one consistent part of living, and that even through changes, especially hard ones, we still can retain our personal purpose and fulfill that purpose by continuing to move forward.
Ariel's Literary Moments
Leonard Nimoy reading There Will Come Soft Rains by Ray Bradbury [Literature Performed]
(Here is the link to a recording of it, if interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-TnyMaaMcA)
I often times don't like having someone read to me, but I remember we had to listen to this short story and it was the first time I heard a reading that didn't distract from the story. But the recording also made me appreciate hearing the storytelling play out, not being able to accidentally read ahead and get spoilers.
Childhood ruined by reading The Landlady by Roald Dahl [Discussing Literature]
It's one of my favorites because the story seems to end suddenly, but because of the way the author laces foreshadowing into the story you can actually figure out the ending. I had never seen this way of writing before. It was so cool but terrifying to think Roald Dahl wrote kids' books and horror stories, and I appreciated the storytelling style.
Understanding The Chaser by John Collier [Discussing Literature]
The story is about toxic infatuation and told using a heavy dosage of foreshadowing laced throughout the story exactly like The Landlady was with an ambiguous end. I didn't realize how much it left for interpretation. At first, I didn't understand that's what happened at all. Then, my brother read it and explained it to me. I even taught my class the rhetoric to my classmates, and that made me appreciate this story even more.
Forced to read my favorite-author-to-be, Fairest by Gail Carson Levine [Reading Literature Privately]
"I was an unsightly child. My skin was the weak blue-white of skimmed milk, which wouldn't have been so bad if my hair had been blond and my lips pale pink. But my lips were as red as a dragon's tongue and my hair as black as an old frying pan," (pg 3).
I fell in love with the amount of detail written into the story, and the fact that it was a retelling of Snow White that took a massive turn away from the original story. To this day, retellings mean the most to me if done well. Gail Carson Levine's story was so intricate and her amount of effort that went into this story made me love everything I read of her after the fact and made me want to start writing fiction on my own.
The only benefit of reading Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli [Creatively Composing]
One assignment was to write a short story as to what happens during this year that the main character is unheard from, and try to each explain what we think had happened. I was the only one who wrote a short story, the rest wrote about "this happening, then this, then this..." Mine was absolute garbage, but even the teacher was impressed. She put a ribbon on the paper and displayed it, and it gave me confidence to write.
From fairies to vampire, reading The Saga of Darren Shan by Darren Shan [Literary Coping]
"Real life's nasty. It's cruel. It doesn't care about heroes and happy endings and the way things should be. In real life, bad things happen. People die. Fights are lost. Evil often wins," (Introduction).
I shifted from reading fantasy to paranormal for the first time with this book, and Darren Shan became another new favorite author a year after reading Fairest. I wanted to read it because none of my friends had read it but one, and she said it was stupid. And it became my favorite and learned to love writing from it.
I often times don't like having someone read to me, but I remember we had to listen to this short story and it was the first time I heard a reading that didn't distract from the story. But the recording also made me appreciate hearing the storytelling play out, not being able to accidentally read ahead and get spoilers.
Childhood ruined by reading The Landlady by Roald Dahl [Discussing Literature]
It's one of my favorites because the story seems to end suddenly, but because of the way the author laces foreshadowing into the story you can actually figure out the ending. I had never seen this way of writing before. It was so cool but terrifying to think Roald Dahl wrote kids' books and horror stories, and I appreciated the storytelling style.
Understanding The Chaser by John Collier [Discussing Literature]
The story is about toxic infatuation and told using a heavy dosage of foreshadowing laced throughout the story exactly like The Landlady was with an ambiguous end. I didn't realize how much it left for interpretation. At first, I didn't understand that's what happened at all. Then, my brother read it and explained it to me. I even taught my class the rhetoric to my classmates, and that made me appreciate this story even more.
Forced to read my favorite-author-to-be, Fairest by Gail Carson Levine [Reading Literature Privately]
"I was an unsightly child. My skin was the weak blue-white of skimmed milk, which wouldn't have been so bad if my hair had been blond and my lips pale pink. But my lips were as red as a dragon's tongue and my hair as black as an old frying pan," (pg 3).
I fell in love with the amount of detail written into the story, and the fact that it was a retelling of Snow White that took a massive turn away from the original story. To this day, retellings mean the most to me if done well. Gail Carson Levine's story was so intricate and her amount of effort that went into this story made me love everything I read of her after the fact and made me want to start writing fiction on my own.
The only benefit of reading Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli [Creatively Composing]
One assignment was to write a short story as to what happens during this year that the main character is unheard from, and try to each explain what we think had happened. I was the only one who wrote a short story, the rest wrote about "this happening, then this, then this..." Mine was absolute garbage, but even the teacher was impressed. She put a ribbon on the paper and displayed it, and it gave me confidence to write.
From fairies to vampire, reading The Saga of Darren Shan by Darren Shan [Literary Coping]
"Real life's nasty. It's cruel. It doesn't care about heroes and happy endings and the way things should be. In real life, bad things happen. People die. Fights are lost. Evil often wins," (Introduction).
I shifted from reading fantasy to paranormal for the first time with this book, and Darren Shan became another new favorite author a year after reading Fairest. I wanted to read it because none of my friends had read it but one, and she said it was stupid. And it became my favorite and learned to love writing from it.
Maddi's Literary Moment's
Writing About Sunshine
(Creatively Composing)
I used to love to
write flash fiction, and in high school I took a creative writing class where I
was able to write flash fiction about many different topics. I had just gone
through a brief depressed episode and was coming out of it well. I wrote a piece
about a rainy day where the sun peaks through the clouds, and I felt like it described
my experience perfectly!
Poetry from Apples (Religious Literary
Experience)
Last semester in my Humanities class we were asked to write an essay to show our religious experiences as a famous writer had when an apple fell from an apple tree and then he later found an impactful verse in the scriptures. Through this experience I wrote about how I came to know God through different experiences. It was written in poetry, and in a manner of praising God throughout. Through this piece I was able to not only convey my testimony, but to also grow it as I wrote about experiences that I hadn’t previously considered as moments of spiritual growth.
Last semester in my Humanities class we were asked to write an essay to show our religious experiences as a famous writer had when an apple fell from an apple tree and then he later found an impactful verse in the scriptures. Through this experience I wrote about how I came to know God through different experiences. It was written in poetry, and in a manner of praising God throughout. Through this piece I was able to not only convey my testimony, but to also grow it as I wrote about experiences that I hadn’t previously considered as moments of spiritual growth.
Prayers in Karen (Foreign Literary Experience)
On my mission I would read the Bible and anything I could in Karen (a Burmese dialect) so that I could get better at reading and understanding. Once Karen member in my ward wrote out and translated a prayer I said in her home into Karen. As I later read it, the words I had spoke took on a much deeper meaning as I read in Karen and did my best to translate it into English concepts. The beauty of God and my intimate relationship seemed much more profound in this language than in mine. And the translated phrase for Heavenly Father, “My God, my Father residing in Heaven” has since stuck with me.
On my mission I would read the Bible and anything I could in Karen (a Burmese dialect) so that I could get better at reading and understanding. Once Karen member in my ward wrote out and translated a prayer I said in her home into Karen. As I later read it, the words I had spoke took on a much deeper meaning as I read in Karen and did my best to translate it into English concepts. The beauty of God and my intimate relationship seemed much more profound in this language than in mine. And the translated phrase for Heavenly Father, “My God, my Father residing in Heaven” has since stuck with me.
Letters of Farewell (Literary Coping)
When I was in middle school one of my closest friends committed suicide. It had always been a hard and difficult subject for me and felt like a wound that never really healed. In my junior year I was asked to write an essay about something important to me. I turned it into a letter to my friend where I could say goodbye and tell him all the things I had never had the chance to say. It helped me to heal immensely, and since then I feel like the wound has healed.
When I was in middle school one of my closest friends committed suicide. It had always been a hard and difficult subject for me and felt like a wound that never really healed. In my junior year I was asked to write an essay about something important to me. I turned it into a letter to my friend where I could say goodbye and tell him all the things I had never had the chance to say. It helped me to heal immensely, and since then I feel like the wound has healed.
Ghost of Christmas (Theatrical Experience)
I went to see a production of the Ghost of Christmas Past with my mom and her friends in high school, and as I watched it, the characters came to life. A small child was cast as a sick little boy, and his portrayal of being so ill, but so sweet and sincere, really touched me. Especially when the child died in the play—it broke my heart! I connected with the character so well.
I went to see a production of the Ghost of Christmas Past with my mom and her friends in high school, and as I watched it, the characters came to life. A small child was cast as a sick little boy, and his portrayal of being so ill, but so sweet and sincere, really touched me. Especially when the child died in the play—it broke my heart! I connected with the character so well.
Book of Mormon Legitimacy (Literary Envy)
My friend Garrett is an amazing writer, and he always has me edit and review his writing. He wrote a research essay on the academic legitimacy of the Book of Mormon for his religion class and had me review it. At the same time, I was working on my own research paper, and I was so impressed with his writing and how well it flowed and how elevated and professional it sounded. He took a religious topic and made it into something academic and logical, while still maintaining the spiritual aspect of the scriptures. He had reached a perfect balance. At the same time, I was jealous that my paper wasn’t coming together as well as his, when I was writing a paper and had poured over dozens of peer reviewed articles, and his managed to sound more credible and realistic.
My friend Garrett is an amazing writer, and he always has me edit and review his writing. He wrote a research essay on the academic legitimacy of the Book of Mormon for his religion class and had me review it. At the same time, I was working on my own research paper, and I was so impressed with his writing and how well it flowed and how elevated and professional it sounded. He took a religious topic and made it into something academic and logical, while still maintaining the spiritual aspect of the scriptures. He had reached a perfect balance. At the same time, I was jealous that my paper wasn’t coming together as well as his, when I was writing a paper and had poured over dozens of peer reviewed articles, and his managed to sound more credible and realistic.
Estephanie's Literary Moments
- Antigone (Theatrical Expereience) - I went to an art school back home that was called Nashville School of the Arts. Because I went to school there for theatre, I had to read many plays and analyze them. One of the first plays that I read and performed with my class was called Antigone. This play was a greek tragedy that consisted of a lot of unfortunate events. Let's just say there were a lot of deaths. This play moved me in various ways. The way that Antigone (main character) performed one of her monologues about her love for her betrothed is moving. It showed me how literature can
- Eleanor and Park (Reading Literature Privately) - When I started to read this book, I did not know it would have such a big impact on the way I connect to literature now. There are a lot of personal reasons why I connect to this book. One of the biggest reasons I have such a connection with this book is because it made me realize things about myself that I had not known before. It made me see the way that I view others and myself, and how we view one another maybe completely different to other people. It just expanded my understanding of life.
- Monologue (Literary Coping) - In school, my freshman year, my teacher had the class write a monologue on an event that had deeply impacted me in my life. The year before that somebody in family had passed away. This was one of the hardest things that had happened to me, and I honestly tried to hold in all the emotion that I was feeling. I did this to help others around me who seemed to be having an even harder time. When the teacher told us to write a monologue and perform it, I chose to write about this event. I wrote about the way I was truly feeling inside, but how I hid my true emotions to help other people that I loved. I have never felt as big of an emotional release than when I wrote that monologue. It really helped me cope with what had happened and put me in a better place mentally and emotionally.
- Unhappiness (Musical Experience) - When I was younger, I would listen to Christian music on the way to and from seminary. There was this one song that really made me think about why we feel sadness, anger, jealousy, etc. on earth. It says, " When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win we know the pain reminds this heart, that this is not, this is not our home. Its not our home." This song made me reflect on why we have pain and afflictions. This is not our final destination. We go through hardships and tribulations because this is not where we are supposed to be. We go through these things to learn and to reach our final goal/ destination.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Annie's Literary Moments
The Stranger by Albert Camus (Sublime Literary Experience)
When I read The Stranger at seventeen, it was the first time I ever found myself hating a book. Everyday I would drive the 20 minutes to school and just think about the book, wrestle with the message it was conveying. It bothered me, more than I had ever been bothered by a work of literature in my life, but I loved it because it stretched me. It taught me how think through things, how to mentally struggle, how to deal with uncomfortable things so in the end it was one of the books that impacted me the most out of all the things I read in high school.
Youth in an Austrian Town by Ingeborg Bachmann (Literary Coping)
I found this short story in an Anthology for a Comparative Literature class I took a few years ago. It wasn't until a few months ago that I read it for the first time and it was very carthartic. Yes, this is the story of children growing up against World War II but all these decades later it connected so personally with me and some of the hard things that I've experienced.
The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis (Reading Literature Privately)
This is the first book I ever cried over. It's the piece of literature that is most dear to my heart, because it was one of the purest moments of my life, when I closed the last page and looked out the window of our teal mini-van at the sunset as we drove along the interstate. Maybe these are insignificant details, but they are inseparable from the moment and from these words: "The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning."
Creature Comfort by Arcade Fire (Literary Within Musical Experience)
This song from the start had a lot of personal significance to me, but I think the reason that I've listened to it over and over and over again is because it talks about things that plague our generation specifically, and these things have had there fair share of foul play in my life. It's definitely on the dark side but I just like that its illuminating something that is a touchy subject.
Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis (Religious Literary Experience)
The Currant Bush. In one of the first chapters C.S. Lewis relates an experience he had standing next to a Currant Bush: "As I stood beside a flowering currant bush on a summer day there suddenly arose in me without warning, and as if from a depth not of years but of centuries.. it seemed difficult to find words strong enough for the sensation which came over me; Milton's "enormous bliss" of Eden comes somewhere near it." Reading this gave me a vocabulary for things I'd felt my whole life but never been able to put words to them.
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald (Cinematic Literary Experience)
I had read The Great Gatsby once before, but it was when I saw the Baz Luthrmann version in theaters that my eyes were opened to the magical-ness of the story Fitzgerald had created. It was almost like seeing poetry--the way all the imagery and sound flowed together on the screen. The next time I read The Great Gatsby it was so much more vivid and alive to me.
When I read The Stranger at seventeen, it was the first time I ever found myself hating a book. Everyday I would drive the 20 minutes to school and just think about the book, wrestle with the message it was conveying. It bothered me, more than I had ever been bothered by a work of literature in my life, but I loved it because it stretched me. It taught me how think through things, how to mentally struggle, how to deal with uncomfortable things so in the end it was one of the books that impacted me the most out of all the things I read in high school.
Youth in an Austrian Town by Ingeborg Bachmann (Literary Coping)
I found this short story in an Anthology for a Comparative Literature class I took a few years ago. It wasn't until a few months ago that I read it for the first time and it was very carthartic. Yes, this is the story of children growing up against World War II but all these decades later it connected so personally with me and some of the hard things that I've experienced.
The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis (Reading Literature Privately)
This is the first book I ever cried over. It's the piece of literature that is most dear to my heart, because it was one of the purest moments of my life, when I closed the last page and looked out the window of our teal mini-van at the sunset as we drove along the interstate. Maybe these are insignificant details, but they are inseparable from the moment and from these words: "The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning."
Creature Comfort by Arcade Fire (Literary Within Musical Experience)
This song from the start had a lot of personal significance to me, but I think the reason that I've listened to it over and over and over again is because it talks about things that plague our generation specifically, and these things have had there fair share of foul play in my life. It's definitely on the dark side but I just like that its illuminating something that is a touchy subject.
Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis (Religious Literary Experience)
The Currant Bush. In one of the first chapters C.S. Lewis relates an experience he had standing next to a Currant Bush: "As I stood beside a flowering currant bush on a summer day there suddenly arose in me without warning, and as if from a depth not of years but of centuries.. it seemed difficult to find words strong enough for the sensation which came over me; Milton's "enormous bliss" of Eden comes somewhere near it." Reading this gave me a vocabulary for things I'd felt my whole life but never been able to put words to them.
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald (Cinematic Literary Experience)
I had read The Great Gatsby once before, but it was when I saw the Baz Luthrmann version in theaters that my eyes were opened to the magical-ness of the story Fitzgerald had created. It was almost like seeing poetry--the way all the imagery and sound flowed together on the screen. The next time I read The Great Gatsby it was so much more vivid and alive to me.
Caroline's Literary Moments
Les Mis (Theatrical Experience)
I have seen this play live 3 times - once a few months ago in London. Every time it is utterly magnificent. I have never read the book - it is quite daunting - but I feel like after each showing, I don't need too (some of you may not agree with that). It is one of the longest running plays, and viewers can see how much love the actors have for their job. Also, a book does not have the wonderful music inside of it, like "Empty chair at Empty Tables".
Screwtape Letters (Reading Literature Privately)
I like books with stories, self help books really have no interest to me. This one, which is a little bit of both, captivating me with each word. I learned so much about repentance and love and better oneself and I have never annotated a book more - not even a textbook.
Romeo and Juliet (Memorization of Literature)
I had to memorize the prologue in ninth grade, maybe a few of us did. I don't believe that is one of his better plays, but I think the prologue is beautiful and really sets a stage for a wonderful show. I actually remember most of it! I also think with it being one of his more popular shows, it is an important piece of literature to read and have a personal experience with.
Jesus the Christ (Religious Literary Experience)
I read this twice while on my mission, and I want to read it maybe ten more times. This is a wonderful account of Christ's life! Talmage did a wonderful job sharing the story of Christ from the beginning of time and into the future. I love how there are scriptures from both the Bible and the BofM and quotes from prophets and many other written words. I wish it wasn't such a large book and it was easier to read, but it is worth every word and every hour spent on it.
Poem (Foreign Literary Experience)
So this might be a little different than what is expected, but while on my mission, I wrote multiple poems in Spanish, which was my mission language. It was incredibly hard - especially with rhyme and scheme, but I treasure those poems. They helped me write something that I couldn't share with those around me. Even going back to read them now brings back feelings that English wouldn't.
Lord of the Rings (Cinematic Literary Experience)
I haven't read all 3 of the books, but I have seen the movies too many times to count. Peter Jackson really made the movies exactly how they should be. The actors chosen so well, that they really emulate the characters in the books. He truly did everything a director should do to a movie from a book adaption, they really could not have been any more perfect. Like Les Mis, it makes me feel like I don't even have to read the books, and really, who has time to read 10 pages just about trees. JRR Tolkien is amazing!
I have seen this play live 3 times - once a few months ago in London. Every time it is utterly magnificent. I have never read the book - it is quite daunting - but I feel like after each showing, I don't need too (some of you may not agree with that). It is one of the longest running plays, and viewers can see how much love the actors have for their job. Also, a book does not have the wonderful music inside of it, like "Empty chair at Empty Tables".
Screwtape Letters (Reading Literature Privately)
I like books with stories, self help books really have no interest to me. This one, which is a little bit of both, captivating me with each word. I learned so much about repentance and love and better oneself and I have never annotated a book more - not even a textbook.
Romeo and Juliet (Memorization of Literature)
I had to memorize the prologue in ninth grade, maybe a few of us did. I don't believe that is one of his better plays, but I think the prologue is beautiful and really sets a stage for a wonderful show. I actually remember most of it! I also think with it being one of his more popular shows, it is an important piece of literature to read and have a personal experience with.
Jesus the Christ (Religious Literary Experience)
I read this twice while on my mission, and I want to read it maybe ten more times. This is a wonderful account of Christ's life! Talmage did a wonderful job sharing the story of Christ from the beginning of time and into the future. I love how there are scriptures from both the Bible and the BofM and quotes from prophets and many other written words. I wish it wasn't such a large book and it was easier to read, but it is worth every word and every hour spent on it.
Poem (Foreign Literary Experience)
So this might be a little different than what is expected, but while on my mission, I wrote multiple poems in Spanish, which was my mission language. It was incredibly hard - especially with rhyme and scheme, but I treasure those poems. They helped me write something that I couldn't share with those around me. Even going back to read them now brings back feelings that English wouldn't.
Lord of the Rings (Cinematic Literary Experience)
I haven't read all 3 of the books, but I have seen the movies too many times to count. Peter Jackson really made the movies exactly how they should be. The actors chosen so well, that they really emulate the characters in the books. He truly did everything a director should do to a movie from a book adaption, they really could not have been any more perfect. Like Les Mis, it makes me feel like I don't even have to read the books, and really, who has time to read 10 pages just about trees. JRR Tolkien is amazing!
Eliza's Literary Moments
A different Hunchback (Theatrical Experience)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a standout when I think of theatrical experiences I’ve had with literature. This is not to be mistaken for the Disney version of this wonderful musical. Quite the contrary, in fact. This drastic tale written by James Lapine slowly melted away what I thought I knew about the captive Hunchback in the towers of Notre Dame, and replaced it with a much darker, more real, absolutely enthralling story instead. The story captivated me, and to this day holds the spot for my very favorite play.
Bound for Envy (Literary Envy)
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is without a shadow of a doubt a book so good, it is almost guaranteed to breed envy in its readers. The author is an elderly man, who is writing from the perspective of an eleven-year-old girl. This pattern for literary gold is bound to make anyone jealous. “There was no one in sight; save for its perpetual tangle of shadows, junk, and sad bric-a-brac, the long attic was empty. “ Reading these words captivated me for sure, but made me take a step back and look with a little disdain at my much less interesting style of writing.
Lines for Literature (Literary Travel)
A few years ago, my brothers, my dad, and myself visited the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. And though visiting the house itself was a very humbling experience, what stands out more clearly in my mind as life changing, is the line that we stood in. And I don’t mean this in the form of a complaint, but rather in the form of wonder. We waited in line for nearly two hours, amidst hundreds of others interested in this same scene for one reason or another. All of us, as strangers, from all over the world, were gathered to witness the setting of the tragedy of one girl’s family. I think that in and of itself says more about the impact of this book, than the upkeep of “the annex” itself.
Cerebral Sunshine (Literary within Musical Experience)
My cousin Chaya was born with Cerebral Palsy, and died a week before her sixteenth birthday. At her funeral, we sang “there is sunshine in my soul today,” and though we were grateful for the happy tune during a sad time, the focus was instead placed on the words of that hopeful hymn. There was a particular emphasis on the line “And Jesus listening can hear, the songs I cannot sing.” These words still have a special place in my heart, which was only magnified when Elder Holland spoke about that very same line a couple years later.
True to its name (Memorization of Literature)
I memorized the poem “A Psalm of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow when I was in my sophomore year of high school. Interestingly enough, at the time the poem meant something to me, but not as much as it does now. It was on my mission when I truly recognized the meaning of the words to me. And as I was able to repeat them to myself again and again as they applied in various situations throughout my mission, and even now. And I imagine that they will continue to be applicable throughout my life.
Magda's Literary Moments
Dead Poets Society [Cinematic Literary Experience]
I had read Henry David Thoreau's work before, but it never meant as much to me as it did when I first watched Dead Poets Society. It touched me in the same way that it touched the boys in the movie. As the boys in that movie began to take risks, pursue passions, and "seize the day", I began to see what Thoreau really meant when he said that we should "suck all the marrow out of life". I realized that we can live as fully as we want to live; the only thing stopping us is our own fear.
A Ragtag Team [Theatrical Experience]
Performing "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is one of my fondest memories of high school. We had to put it on for a mandatory theater class, so the cast and crew were made up of people from all different backgrounds and interests. Many of them didn't particularly have any interest in literature or theater. Our star football player played Lysander, our valedictorian played Oberon, the class clown played Puck, and so on. And everyone had an absolute blast. What amazed me about this experience was how this play brought all these different people together and allowed us to work together so seamlessly. This play has stuck with me not because of the content, but because it proved to me that theater and literature have a power to connect people to one another.
My Father's Philosophy [Discussing Literature]
My father has read to me from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" ever since I was little. Since then, I have discussed the book with him many times. Every time I discuss it with him, he seems to send me off with a new nugget of wisdom or a different layer to the story that I had never noticed before. The nugget that has stuck with me the most is what Glinda says to Dorothy at the end of the book: "You had the power in you all along, my dear". My dad uses that phrase often to remind me that I have to power within me to do whatever I want to do. There is nothing stopping me from becoming whoever I want to be or living whatever kind of life I want to live.
Radar [Reading Literature Privately]
In the book "Paper Towns", there's a relatively unimportant part that I feel is often overlooked but had a profound impact on me. When Q gets frustrated with his two best friends for being obsessed with things that are too trivial, his friend Radar cuts back with some amazing lines about tolerance and friendship. He tells Q that all people will have things about them that might seem annoying or frustrating to us, but that's what makes them, them, and we shouldn't expect people to be anything other than themselves. It made me think about what kind of things I expect from the people I care about, or what I look for when I form relationships. Radar's advice has helped me keep up meaningful relationships to this day.
A Little Prince [Theatrical Experience]
I had never cried at the end of "The Little Prince" until I saw it performed. To watch a little boy learn about love and friendship and trust and then watch him fall apart when he learned about grief and loss was absolutely heartbreaking. I was going through a time when I was very lonely and so the snake's argument in the end that "it's lonely when you're among people, too" actually made a lot of sense to me. I understood that the little prince believed life to be meaningless without important people to share it with.
Contradictions [Literary Within Musical Experience]
"I'm sad and happy, why should I choose? Life is full of contradictions- every inch a mile. At the moment we start weeping, that's when we should smile." The song "Happy/Sad" from Addams Family: The Musical almost brings me to tears every time I listen to it because the concept of "bittersweet" is just so beautiful to me. It reminds me that nothing in this world is black and white. Sometimes we tend to want to box in something as complicated as emotions and we get stressed or confused when we can't. But this song reminds me that it's okay if we can't. It's okay if we don't quite understand how we feel or if we don't have to words to express exactly what we want to say. It's okay to just feel, and it's okay to just think, and there's nothing wrong with things that don't make sense.
I had read Henry David Thoreau's work before, but it never meant as much to me as it did when I first watched Dead Poets Society. It touched me in the same way that it touched the boys in the movie. As the boys in that movie began to take risks, pursue passions, and "seize the day", I began to see what Thoreau really meant when he said that we should "suck all the marrow out of life". I realized that we can live as fully as we want to live; the only thing stopping us is our own fear.
A Ragtag Team [Theatrical Experience]
Performing "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is one of my fondest memories of high school. We had to put it on for a mandatory theater class, so the cast and crew were made up of people from all different backgrounds and interests. Many of them didn't particularly have any interest in literature or theater. Our star football player played Lysander, our valedictorian played Oberon, the class clown played Puck, and so on. And everyone had an absolute blast. What amazed me about this experience was how this play brought all these different people together and allowed us to work together so seamlessly. This play has stuck with me not because of the content, but because it proved to me that theater and literature have a power to connect people to one another.
My Father's Philosophy [Discussing Literature]
My father has read to me from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" ever since I was little. Since then, I have discussed the book with him many times. Every time I discuss it with him, he seems to send me off with a new nugget of wisdom or a different layer to the story that I had never noticed before. The nugget that has stuck with me the most is what Glinda says to Dorothy at the end of the book: "You had the power in you all along, my dear". My dad uses that phrase often to remind me that I have to power within me to do whatever I want to do. There is nothing stopping me from becoming whoever I want to be or living whatever kind of life I want to live.
Radar [Reading Literature Privately]
In the book "Paper Towns", there's a relatively unimportant part that I feel is often overlooked but had a profound impact on me. When Q gets frustrated with his two best friends for being obsessed with things that are too trivial, his friend Radar cuts back with some amazing lines about tolerance and friendship. He tells Q that all people will have things about them that might seem annoying or frustrating to us, but that's what makes them, them, and we shouldn't expect people to be anything other than themselves. It made me think about what kind of things I expect from the people I care about, or what I look for when I form relationships. Radar's advice has helped me keep up meaningful relationships to this day.
A Little Prince [Theatrical Experience]
I had never cried at the end of "The Little Prince" until I saw it performed. To watch a little boy learn about love and friendship and trust and then watch him fall apart when he learned about grief and loss was absolutely heartbreaking. I was going through a time when I was very lonely and so the snake's argument in the end that "it's lonely when you're among people, too" actually made a lot of sense to me. I understood that the little prince believed life to be meaningless without important people to share it with.
Contradictions [Literary Within Musical Experience]
"I'm sad and happy, why should I choose? Life is full of contradictions- every inch a mile. At the moment we start weeping, that's when we should smile." The song "Happy/Sad" from Addams Family: The Musical almost brings me to tears every time I listen to it because the concept of "bittersweet" is just so beautiful to me. It reminds me that nothing in this world is black and white. Sometimes we tend to want to box in something as complicated as emotions and we get stressed or confused when we can't. But this song reminds me that it's okay if we can't. It's okay if we don't quite understand how we feel or if we don't have to words to express exactly what we want to say. It's okay to just feel, and it's okay to just think, and there's nothing wrong with things that don't make sense.
Rowen's Literary Moments
Reverence [reading literature privately]
I read Ender's Game fairly late in comparison to many of my peers. Typically, I would bounce thoughts and ideas about whatever I happened to be reading at the time off of my mother, since she was the only other person in the house, , but not so with Ender's Game - my mother never liked the story, so I never really got to talk about it. The further I got, the less people who had recommended it to me were interested in what I had to say about it, and so the less I talked about it. I read the final chapters alone in my bedroom . . . I don't cry at books, I never have. But the final pages of Ender's Game made me glad that I could experience in the privacy of my own mind. I closed the book, and reverently placed it back on the shelf.
A Very Different Christmas Story[Cinematic Literary Experience]
I can't remember if I saw Hogfather or read it first, but either way the visuals and narration I associate with the story thanks to it's cinematic adaptation stick with me every time I read or watch it. I cannot unhear the voice of Death teaching a human about why belief matters.
This Story is Nothing Special [Literary Coping]
Somewhere in the internet, there is a blog which contains all of my most embarrassing angsty teenage poetry. I had a lot of angst, a lot of teenage, and a lot less poetry.
Words I Did Not Understand [Literature Performed/Theatrical Experience/ Foreign Literary Experience/ Sublime Literary Experience]
I know there's an entirely different subset for music-as-literature, but this actually falls in multiple categories. I recently had the opportunity to attend a concert by The Hu, a Mongolian Rock band which uses traditional throat singing and electric guitars to revitalize Mongolian culture. I can't put into words how I feel about their music, and I'm not really sure which category this story goes into, but it belongs somewhere.
Nothing I Write Makes Sense [Creatively Composing]
I've written very few songs that I'm actually proud of. Two specifically come to mind- one I wrote on my mission after I had vowed not to write sad music whilst serving the Lord (a choice with debatable legitimacy) The second I composed while I was a confused mess about romance. Turns out that was the only good love song I've ever written.
Going to Open Mics is Fun :/ [Literary Envy]
I'm sorry that so few of my stories have to do with traditional literature. Until I became too busy with school to manage, I attended the open mic at Velour for about a month. I really admire the musicians there, both for their content and compositional skill, but I cannot help but feel raw whenever I go. Its also spurred me to attempt to be more creative than I have been recently, so that's good.
I read Ender's Game fairly late in comparison to many of my peers. Typically, I would bounce thoughts and ideas about whatever I happened to be reading at the time off of my mother, since she was the only other person in the house, , but not so with Ender's Game - my mother never liked the story, so I never really got to talk about it. The further I got, the less people who had recommended it to me were interested in what I had to say about it, and so the less I talked about it. I read the final chapters alone in my bedroom . . . I don't cry at books, I never have. But the final pages of Ender's Game made me glad that I could experience in the privacy of my own mind. I closed the book, and reverently placed it back on the shelf.
A Very Different Christmas Story[Cinematic Literary Experience]
I can't remember if I saw Hogfather or read it first, but either way the visuals and narration I associate with the story thanks to it's cinematic adaptation stick with me every time I read or watch it. I cannot unhear the voice of Death teaching a human about why belief matters.
This Story is Nothing Special [Literary Coping]
Somewhere in the internet, there is a blog which contains all of my most embarrassing angsty teenage poetry. I had a lot of angst, a lot of teenage, and a lot less poetry.
Words I Did Not Understand [Literature Performed/Theatrical Experience/ Foreign Literary Experience/ Sublime Literary Experience]
I know there's an entirely different subset for music-as-literature, but this actually falls in multiple categories. I recently had the opportunity to attend a concert by The Hu, a Mongolian Rock band which uses traditional throat singing and electric guitars to revitalize Mongolian culture. I can't put into words how I feel about their music, and I'm not really sure which category this story goes into, but it belongs somewhere.
Nothing I Write Makes Sense [Creatively Composing]
I've written very few songs that I'm actually proud of. Two specifically come to mind- one I wrote on my mission after I had vowed not to write sad music whilst serving the Lord (a choice with debatable legitimacy) The second I composed while I was a confused mess about romance. Turns out that was the only good love song I've ever written.
Going to Open Mics is Fun :/ [Literary Envy]
I'm sorry that so few of my stories have to do with traditional literature. Until I became too busy with school to manage, I attended the open mic at Velour for about a month. I really admire the musicians there, both for their content and compositional skill, but I cannot help but feel raw whenever I go. Its also spurred me to attempt to be more creative than I have been recently, so that's good.
Matt's Literary Moments
Poem for my wife [Creatively Composing]
This is all gushy, but every year for our anniversary I write a poem for my wife. These poems deepen my love for her and help me express my love in ways I otherwise wound not be able to.
The Road [Sublime Literary Experience]
This book is full of heavy ideas. These heavy ideas combined with its dark nature makes for a book I had to put down on numerous occasions because it made me think in ways I hadn't before.
The Way of Kings [Reading Literature Privately]
This was one of those books that really inspired me to write creatively. I don't plan on making a living out of it, but expressing my ideas through fictional characters is something I will do for a long time.
Ender's Game [Cinematic Literary Experience]
This wasn't one of the times where I reread the book because the movie was so good. I reread the book after this movie to remember that the book was good because the movie made it seem otherwise.
Broadway Productions [Theatrical Experience]
I was spoiled enough to grow up two hours away from New York. I was able to see many of Broadway's masterpieces like Lion King, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, and Aladdin. I remember being completely captivated by every single performance.
Beowulf [Discussing Literature]
Recently, I had a class that discussed Beowulf. We talked about why and how society creates monsters and I found it very profound and interesting. I spent some time after class thinking about that and talking about that with my wife.
This is all gushy, but every year for our anniversary I write a poem for my wife. These poems deepen my love for her and help me express my love in ways I otherwise wound not be able to.
The Road [Sublime Literary Experience]
This book is full of heavy ideas. These heavy ideas combined with its dark nature makes for a book I had to put down on numerous occasions because it made me think in ways I hadn't before.
The Way of Kings [Reading Literature Privately]
This was one of those books that really inspired me to write creatively. I don't plan on making a living out of it, but expressing my ideas through fictional characters is something I will do for a long time.
Ender's Game [Cinematic Literary Experience]
This wasn't one of the times where I reread the book because the movie was so good. I reread the book after this movie to remember that the book was good because the movie made it seem otherwise.
Broadway Productions [Theatrical Experience]
I was spoiled enough to grow up two hours away from New York. I was able to see many of Broadway's masterpieces like Lion King, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, and Aladdin. I remember being completely captivated by every single performance.
Beowulf [Discussing Literature]
Recently, I had a class that discussed Beowulf. We talked about why and how society creates monsters and I found it very profound and interesting. I spent some time after class thinking about that and talking about that with my wife.
Hannah's Literary Moments
Reedy's Galaxy (Memorization of Literature)
In High school, my creative writing teacher asked us to memorize Vern Rutsala's poem "Reedy's Galaxy." I was amazed at the way the poem felt when I was readying it, the pace perfect for any moment of stress. I still recite the poem today in my head in moments of need.
"The Latehomecomer" (Reading Literature Privately)
My freshman year at BYU I took an anthropology class and I felt as if my thinking and view of other cultures became much more clear and accepting. This is mostly due to the book "The Latehomecomer" by Kao Kalia Yang. I felt a connection to the way she expressed her upbringing and struggles in life, ones that I had never considered an immigrant to face as the live in the United States.
Letter from Home (Literary Letters)
When I was serving my mission my older sister got married. I was pretty sad about it because we were really close and had always talked about how I would be the maid of honor at her wedding. Anyways, about a week after her wedding she wrote me a letter all about the wedding and reception and the detail and word choice made me feel like I was there and I was so thankful.
Les Mis (Theatrical Experience)
My senior year of high school I travelled to New York with my mom and sister. We decided to see a musical on Broadway and chose "Les Mis." I had never been a fan of theater or musicals so I wasn't expecting much but during the performance I was brought to tears by the many emotions it brought.
Poetry (Creatively Composing)
I've written a lot of creative writing but I remember once writing a poem about how weird it felt coming home after being at college for a year. I felt like I was able to articulate how i felt before I really knew how I felt.
Poetry Slam (Literary Envy)
In November I went to the Saturday Night Slam Series here at BYU. The last girl the read spoke about her experience being multicultural and feeling out of place. She was so good and I was amazed.
In High school, my creative writing teacher asked us to memorize Vern Rutsala's poem "Reedy's Galaxy." I was amazed at the way the poem felt when I was readying it, the pace perfect for any moment of stress. I still recite the poem today in my head in moments of need.
"The Latehomecomer" (Reading Literature Privately)
My freshman year at BYU I took an anthropology class and I felt as if my thinking and view of other cultures became much more clear and accepting. This is mostly due to the book "The Latehomecomer" by Kao Kalia Yang. I felt a connection to the way she expressed her upbringing and struggles in life, ones that I had never considered an immigrant to face as the live in the United States.
Letter from Home (Literary Letters)
When I was serving my mission my older sister got married. I was pretty sad about it because we were really close and had always talked about how I would be the maid of honor at her wedding. Anyways, about a week after her wedding she wrote me a letter all about the wedding and reception and the detail and word choice made me feel like I was there and I was so thankful.
Les Mis (Theatrical Experience)
My senior year of high school I travelled to New York with my mom and sister. We decided to see a musical on Broadway and chose "Les Mis." I had never been a fan of theater or musicals so I wasn't expecting much but during the performance I was brought to tears by the many emotions it brought.
Poetry (Creatively Composing)
I've written a lot of creative writing but I remember once writing a poem about how weird it felt coming home after being at college for a year. I felt like I was able to articulate how i felt before I really knew how I felt.
Poetry Slam (Literary Envy)
In November I went to the Saturday Night Slam Series here at BYU. The last girl the read spoke about her experience being multicultural and feeling out of place. She was so good and I was amazed.
Jaidyn's literary moments
Jaidyn's Literary Moments
My freshman year at BYU, I went to a poetry reading. One girl read a poem that was beautiful and melodic, and I immediately looked it up after the reading, determined to remember it. The line that still comes into my mind sometimes is "In the room women come and go/ Talking of Michelangelo."
The story within a song [Literary within Musical Experience]
I stumbled across a song once called "Fictional State" and just loved it! It took me a few times listening to figure out that it was about an unmarried couple finding out that the girl was pregnant. It's kinda a weird song topic, but it was also a great way to tell a sad story.
The Shakespeare we don't know (maybe) [Memorization of Literature]
"We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep." That's one part I can remember from the passage I memorized in 8th grade. At the time I didn't understand it at all, and I still don't know what play it's from, but it evoked new emotions and images for me.
Mr. Darcy is cuter in the book [Cinematic Literary Experience]
Some time after reading Pride and Prejudice, I saw the movie with Keira Knightly. I was pleased-- it preserved the story and characters. But I was also impressed by how much more was in the book itself-- there are so many small conversations and details! I'd read it versus watch it.
My poems [Literary Coping]
Poetry was never interesting to me until one day in high school when I opened my phone and typed out a poem. None of the poems are very good, but they became essential for me as I worked through the stresses, loneliness, and demands of my high school years.
Life, love, and a little child [Religious Literary Experience]
The book The Little Prince caused me a lot of reflection. It made me question my perspective on the way I viewed the world, and especially on how I treat the people that I love. There's a part where the boy "tames" a fox. When he leaves, the fox is devastated, but knows that it was worth it to be tamed (aka to love and be loved).
Sophie's Literary Moments
My golden experience (Reading Literature Privately)
The Goldfinch, written by Donna Tartt, was the first really challenging book I read on my own time. Eloquent and complicated (and very, very long), The Goldfinch really pushed me and changed the types of books that I aspire to read. The end of the novel was full of memorable quotes of self-doubt, identity, passion, and the purpose of life. I ended up marking and annotating quite a few passages, an activity I had previously only done in school books and utterly rejected in my own reading. But The Goldfinch conveyed such powerful messages so beautifully, and inspired me push my limits when it comes to literature.
Perfect vs. Good, and the Power to Choose (Discussing Literature)
In my junior year AP Language and Composition class, we read one of my now-favorite books: John Steinbeck's East of Eden. Although the novel is wonderful and powerful when read alone, the discussions in class really broadened my understanding of what Steinbeck was trying to communicate. One especially memorable quote that we discussed was when Abra tells Cal: "And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good." When I first started the novel, I did not understand why that quote was so special, but through our discussions of 'timshel' and good vs. evil, it became one of my favorite literary quotes ever.
My experience with Beloved (Sublime Literary Experience)
Toni Morrison's masterpiece Beloved was a novel that truly shook me to the core. The descriptions of slavery and the challenges faced by African Americans in the United States, combined with the downright creepy subject matter of the novel, really freaked me out, but in the best way. Sometimes the ideas did get to the point where I had to put the book down and take a break, but I truly think that reading Beloved greatly contributed to my understanding of post-Civil War America and the evils of the slave trade.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood... (Memorization of Literature)
Freshman year of high school, I memorized Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" for my English class. Though I did not expect this at the time, I still have the poem (mostly) memorized today, and I like to remember it when I am faced with a decision. I truly have tried to live by the values communicated by Robert Frost, and they have encouraged me to take the road less traveled.
Theatre where Shakespeare's company performed (Theatrical Experience)
I have never been the biggest fan of Shakespeare's plays, but while I was studying abroad in London last spring, I had the opportunity to watch The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Globe Theatre. Although it was over 2 hours of uncomfortable standing in the cold and rain, I really felt transported and fascinated with Shakespeare's works as I had never been before. It was an experience so different than simply reading the play or watching it performed by a rudimentary high school cast.
The book is always better than the movie (Cinematic Literary Experience)
Reading To Kill a Mockingbird in my English class was probably the highlight of my freshman year. We also watched the movie as we read, and I developed an appreciation for the book even more. Although the 1962 movie is not the greatest movie ever, it allowed me to visualize and comprehend the messages communicated in the book on a deeper level.
The Goldfinch, written by Donna Tartt, was the first really challenging book I read on my own time. Eloquent and complicated (and very, very long), The Goldfinch really pushed me and changed the types of books that I aspire to read. The end of the novel was full of memorable quotes of self-doubt, identity, passion, and the purpose of life. I ended up marking and annotating quite a few passages, an activity I had previously only done in school books and utterly rejected in my own reading. But The Goldfinch conveyed such powerful messages so beautifully, and inspired me push my limits when it comes to literature.
Perfect vs. Good, and the Power to Choose (Discussing Literature)
In my junior year AP Language and Composition class, we read one of my now-favorite books: John Steinbeck's East of Eden. Although the novel is wonderful and powerful when read alone, the discussions in class really broadened my understanding of what Steinbeck was trying to communicate. One especially memorable quote that we discussed was when Abra tells Cal: "And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good." When I first started the novel, I did not understand why that quote was so special, but through our discussions of 'timshel' and good vs. evil, it became one of my favorite literary quotes ever.
My experience with Beloved (Sublime Literary Experience)
Toni Morrison's masterpiece Beloved was a novel that truly shook me to the core. The descriptions of slavery and the challenges faced by African Americans in the United States, combined with the downright creepy subject matter of the novel, really freaked me out, but in the best way. Sometimes the ideas did get to the point where I had to put the book down and take a break, but I truly think that reading Beloved greatly contributed to my understanding of post-Civil War America and the evils of the slave trade.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood... (Memorization of Literature)
Freshman year of high school, I memorized Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken" for my English class. Though I did not expect this at the time, I still have the poem (mostly) memorized today, and I like to remember it when I am faced with a decision. I truly have tried to live by the values communicated by Robert Frost, and they have encouraged me to take the road less traveled.
Theatre where Shakespeare's company performed (Theatrical Experience)
I have never been the biggest fan of Shakespeare's plays, but while I was studying abroad in London last spring, I had the opportunity to watch The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Globe Theatre. Although it was over 2 hours of uncomfortable standing in the cold and rain, I really felt transported and fascinated with Shakespeare's works as I had never been before. It was an experience so different than simply reading the play or watching it performed by a rudimentary high school cast.
The book is always better than the movie (Cinematic Literary Experience)
Reading To Kill a Mockingbird in my English class was probably the highlight of my freshman year. We also watched the movie as we read, and I developed an appreciation for the book even more. Although the 1962 movie is not the greatest movie ever, it allowed me to visualize and comprehend the messages communicated in the book on a deeper level.
Dylan's Literary Moments
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding [Reading Literature Privately]
Lord of the Flies was one of the very first books I read that had literary merit. My dad had given me the book in middle school and while I read it I suddenly found myself introduced to an entirely new type of book. One that was much deeper than what the entertaining novels I had been reading before.
- Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger [Discussing Literature]
This book was the first one I read as part of my high school AP Literature class. What really affected me in this novel was the art in which the language was employed. Things that had previously not been known to me were now explained by my teacher. Things like perspective, symbolism, and the use of passive language in an intentional manner made me see literature as much more of an art form employed by masters in the craft. The English language was introduced to me as something one could play with.
- Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer [Cinematic Literary Experience]
I had read this book my junior year of high school and found extremely fascinating. The film adaptation was also excellent but like almost every film adaptation, it removed a lot of the content that was included in the novel. What this accomplished in doing though was it helped me as the reader appreciate the reasoning behind adding those sections to the book. I was able to see what had been missed by removing them. It helped me appreciate the smaller movements in novels and their real purpose.
- The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang [Sublime Literary Experience]
I had originally picked up this book because of the good reviews I had seen it getting and I was already looking for something new and interesting to discover. This book was not what I expected it to be though. You continue through the novel expecting the main character to overcome the growing conflict she has with rage and win the day, as most novels do, but instead the novel ends instead she gives in to the rage and commits the atrocity of destroying every living person that opposed them in the war. To her this was the only way the war could be won and her people be protected but it raises the question of whether or not it was worth it and did so in such a way to leave me thinking for a long time.
- The Shining by Stephen King [Reading Literature Privately]
I've always been a fan of horror movies so I decided to try out a horror book and see how I would like it. Whatever I was expecting it was not to be actually scared by the book. Somehow, through some literary masterpiece, this book was scaring me. I read it with clammy palms, something I never knew could happen from reading a book.
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley [Discussing Literature]
This was another book that I had read in my AP Literature class, but unlike the rest of the books, it didn't necessarily contain very developed characters or literature. What made this book so interesting and impactful was that it didn't need that to develop its purpose. The book introduced a concept that was interesting and relevant, and provided compelling arguments both for and against it.
Savannah's Literary Moments
My world awareness [Reading Literature Privately]
When I was in Junior High I found the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, and although it was a relatively easy read the content in it was so harsh and new to my young mind. Rape was something that I had vaguely heard about but this book really opened my eyes to the reality and the horrifying experiences that so many young women in our culture face and have to learn to cope with.
Heartbreak poems [Literary Coping]
I've always used poetry as a way to journal and deal with my emotions since I was a child, but this last year at BYU after a particularly difficult breakup I wrote a poem to my ex. I never showed it to him or even anyone close to me, but it was my outlet that I poured my emotions into. It was harsh, it was sad, and it was real. Even reading it now brings back a flood of those emotions because I clearly can feel the meaning behind each line.
A mother's love [Memorization of Literature]
For as long as I can remember my mom has always been reading the book Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, and the lines, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be" are ingrained in my brain. They're not particularly complex lines, but I hold them dear to my heart and the memories I associate with them. It's so tender for me to see my older siblings starting the same tradition of reading to their young children, and it's something I plan to continue in my family.
Spoken word's changing lives [Literature Performed]
Every Spring, my high school would have selected students perform spoken words for the school that they had written and memorized in our creative writing class. As a junior I was sitting in the huge auditorium, and this semi-"popular" boy got up and began preforming this beautifully written poem. Woven through the metaphors and literary devices he expressed his sadness of how he could never tell his dad he was gay, for fear of physical and emotional harm. My heart was absolutely broken, and it really increased my love and respect for those of the LGBT community. It also inspired me to sign up for the class my senior year and work hard enough so that I too could perform a meaningful piece in front of the school.
Nicholas Spark's has my heart [Literary Travel]
My senior trip my mom and I traveled to Savannah, Georgia because of my ridiculous desire to visit the city that shared my name. While travelling throughout the south however, I could not stop thinking of various Nicholas Spark's novels and thinking that he could have been writing of the exact places I was standing in when he wove his love stories throughout the South. Because of this, I started reading the novels during our spare time on that trip and I felt so much closer to the characters and their romances. Needless to say, I now want to fall in love in the South and have a Nicholas Spark's love story.
Same country, a different language [ Foreign Literary Experience]
Although technically the same language, when I read The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, I felt like as I journeyed through the adventures of Lily and Rosaleen with them, I was experiencing a completely different culture than I was used to as a white girl from the Pacific Northwest. Their different dialect was just the first step in me understanding the history and culture of the South in the 1960's.
When I was in Junior High I found the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, and although it was a relatively easy read the content in it was so harsh and new to my young mind. Rape was something that I had vaguely heard about but this book really opened my eyes to the reality and the horrifying experiences that so many young women in our culture face and have to learn to cope with.
Heartbreak poems [Literary Coping]
I've always used poetry as a way to journal and deal with my emotions since I was a child, but this last year at BYU after a particularly difficult breakup I wrote a poem to my ex. I never showed it to him or even anyone close to me, but it was my outlet that I poured my emotions into. It was harsh, it was sad, and it was real. Even reading it now brings back a flood of those emotions because I clearly can feel the meaning behind each line.
A mother's love [Memorization of Literature]
For as long as I can remember my mom has always been reading the book Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, and the lines, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be" are ingrained in my brain. They're not particularly complex lines, but I hold them dear to my heart and the memories I associate with them. It's so tender for me to see my older siblings starting the same tradition of reading to their young children, and it's something I plan to continue in my family.
Spoken word's changing lives [Literature Performed]
Every Spring, my high school would have selected students perform spoken words for the school that they had written and memorized in our creative writing class. As a junior I was sitting in the huge auditorium, and this semi-"popular" boy got up and began preforming this beautifully written poem. Woven through the metaphors and literary devices he expressed his sadness of how he could never tell his dad he was gay, for fear of physical and emotional harm. My heart was absolutely broken, and it really increased my love and respect for those of the LGBT community. It also inspired me to sign up for the class my senior year and work hard enough so that I too could perform a meaningful piece in front of the school.
Nicholas Spark's has my heart [Literary Travel]
My senior trip my mom and I traveled to Savannah, Georgia because of my ridiculous desire to visit the city that shared my name. While travelling throughout the south however, I could not stop thinking of various Nicholas Spark's novels and thinking that he could have been writing of the exact places I was standing in when he wove his love stories throughout the South. Because of this, I started reading the novels during our spare time on that trip and I felt so much closer to the characters and their romances. Needless to say, I now want to fall in love in the South and have a Nicholas Spark's love story.
Same country, a different language [ Foreign Literary Experience]
Although technically the same language, when I read The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, I felt like as I journeyed through the adventures of Lily and Rosaleen with them, I was experiencing a completely different culture than I was used to as a white girl from the Pacific Northwest. Their different dialect was just the first step in me understanding the history and culture of the South in the 1960's.
Kayla's Literary Moments
My Mother’s Childhood [Discussing Literature]
Educated by Tara Westbrook is one of the most insightful and eye-opening books I have read. Upon finishing it, I recommended the book to my mother. As we discussed the book together, she expressed how similar her own childhood was to Tara’s. She felt as though she had read a story about her own childhood and how she managed to escape that oppression. I realized how much my mother had overcome, as she doesn’t talk much about her situation growing up. It brought us closer together.
Me in 100 Words [Creatively Composing]
One of my English professors encouraged me to introduce myself to the class by way of a written piece containing 100 words. I realized that the thing that made me who I am was my hometown and rural upbringing. The beginning reads: “I’m a desert child. Born under a blistering late afternoon sun in July, raised on a lake that turns to melted gold under pink skies. My childhood was spent wandering barefoot through sagebrush, always keeping a watchful eye for rattlesnakes.” I felt a connection to my childhood while composing this short piece.
Connecting With My Ancestors [Literary within Musical Experience]
I often play a rendition of “Land of our Dreams” on the piano and sing it to my grandfather, who finds comfort and peace each time he requests I play it for him. The lyrics are a lullaby a mother sings to her child as they escape to America at the same time my family’s ancestors did. The song has deep meaning to my family. “May your sleep be as sweet as the wind on the waves / blowing gently toward far happier days. May each breath be a promise to help you believe / we’re off to the land of our dreams.”
Understanding The Glass Castle [Cinematic Literary Experience]
My favorite book is The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. Recently, it was turned into a movie. The movie helped me to deepen my understanding of the family situation Jeanette endured and brought to life scenes I had difficulty picturing in my head from the book alone.
Christmas Gifts [Literary Letters]
My younger sister is serving a mission in Taiwan and this was her first Christmas away from home. For her Christmas present, I painted a series of Christ figures with different poems I had written for her as messages of encouragement, hope, and love. We FaceTimed on Christmas Eve to watch her open her presents. My gift of poems and art made both her and I cry. It was a special moment for my family.
A trip to Amsterdam [Literary Travel]
My mother and I share a favorite book, The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. We are traveling to Holland in March in order to visit her house that hid Jews during WWII. I am excited to see how visiting the place where the story is set will further connect me to the novel.
Hannah's Academic Writing Self-Assessment
Last semester I took English 310 and at the end of the semester wrote an enthymeme that explored the effects of writing poetry on those seeking to overcome unwanted pornography habits. I felt as I prepared the paper that I really grew in my ability to analyze. Instead of simply stating facts or opinions, I was able to explain the effects, underlaying factors and the 'why' behind the main points of my argument. This analysis was on a much deeper level than I had yet to experience in my writing, and I believe this was because of the lessons I had learned in my class. I had learned how to break apart the whole of my enthymeme into the many different pieces, and then explain how they fit back together in synthesis. One weakness that I have struggled with, and especially in this paper, is transition of ideas. I feel that I often have many thoughts I want to include in my paper but struggle putting them all together in a simple and comprehensible way.
James' Literary Moments
A Gospel Allegory (Religious Literary Experience): While
reading The Lord of the Rings, I stumbled
across a song sung by the character Samwise Gamgee. The song is titled “In Western
Lands Beneath the Sun,” if you want to look it up. While reading the last
stanza, I made a connection between the story and the Gospel of Jesus Christ
that gave me a new way of looking at things.
The Worth of a Life (Reading Literature Privately): The ending
of The Way of Kings by Brandon
Sanderson gave me a new way of looking at fiction. In the book, a character offers
a priceless, powerful weapon to his enemy in exchange for the lives of a group
of “worthless” slaves. This powerful moment has taught me to rethink fantasy’s
tendency to glorify violence and to rethink “heroism.”
A Terrifying Glimpse (Sublime Literary Experience): While
reading Mr. Monster by Dan Wells, I
was almost forced to put down the book; though in the end I didn’t have the
strength to put it down. The reason? Seeing into the dark side of the
protagonist of the book gave me a terrifying glimpse into my own dark side. A
glimpse that I did not want to see.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Literary Moments: A Personal Inventory (Assignment)
We write better about literature when we tap into the wellsprings of literary experiences that have engaged us personally. Before my students commit to subjects of literary analysis or expression, I want them to go through a reflective process in which they curate a set of literary moments that have stuck with them, for whatever reason.
Select from among the following prompts to produce an annotated list of about six items, each of which should have an annotation of about 25-75 words relating that experience in brief. If possible, use a quotation from that literary work in question. Title each entry and put in brackets, following the title, the type of literary moment (that is, which of the following prompts you used). See the examples at the bottom.
You are only half done once you've posted. Be sure that you read and respond to at least three of your peers' posts. Tell them which of their moments you'd like to hear more about, or the ones that relate to your own. Help each other get excited about possibilities for writing more.
Select from among the following prompts to produce an annotated list of about six items, each of which should have an annotation of about 25-75 words relating that experience in brief. If possible, use a quotation from that literary work in question. Title each entry and put in brackets, following the title, the type of literary moment (that is, which of the following prompts you used). See the examples at the bottom.
You are only half done once you've posted. Be sure that you read and respond to at least three of your peers' posts. Tell them which of their moments you'd like to hear more about, or the ones that relate to your own. Help each other get excited about possibilities for writing more.
Alyssa's Academic Writing Self-Assessment
It is extremely typical of me to begin an academic paper (or any paragraph within that paper) with one sentence, erase it, write another, erase it, and then write another, only to hit the backspace an inordinate amount of times in frustration. Even though I do very well in planning out my essays and noting down which quotes from sources will go in which paragraph and how each point of my argument will connect with the next, I struggle with starting to put the words on the page. At certain times (like a couple nights before the due date) inspiration will strike, and words will flow from me like water from a fountain. But then, of course, editing that deluge becomes something of a secondary priority. For example, the final paper in my English 291 class required me to do some research on a piece of medieval literature and then analyze the text through a formal lens. This paper boasted an incredibly detailed outline with gorgeous notes next to each quotation and citation. But it took me at least three days to come up with the sentences that would build something more solid from the framework for the paper.
Maddi's Academic Writing Self-Assessment
In my academic writing, I tend to approach it as one would a recipe-- I take all of my ingredients (thesis statement, evidence, reasoning, etc.) and put it together to make a paper. Because of this my papers tend to be more organized than my creative writing, however, it also can lend to problems of losing my voice and style as I write. In my Persuasive Writing class last semester we wrote a 10 page research paper on how the way we eat affects our mental health, and collecting evidence and reasoning with it seemed to come a little easier to me, however the editing process took up a lot of my time because the way I had written the paper had become quite dull. In an effort to hit all the check marks I had lost my passion of the topic I was discussing!
Annie's Academic Writing Self-Assessment
Academic writing to me, usually is a bit overwhelming in the beginning. Usually though, once I get going with a good idea, once I work out a good thesis I can go from there. If there is something that I struggle with in Academic writing you will find it in the editing process. Maybe not uncommonly I hate scrutinizing my work, over and over again. The last paper I wrote (somewhere around 3 years ago) for my English 251 class was a good paper as far as cohesion and analysis goes, but I know if I would have spent more time tweaking it and rewriting I would have been more satisfied with the paper as a whole. That being said, a strength I have is structure. I try to focus on making my academic writings reflect my thesis statement. I stay on track with the points I'm trying to make and focus on cohesion between ideas.
Ariel's Academic Writing Self-Assessment
With academic writing, I'm always a bit reluctant to start. If I don't have a passion for what I'm writing, or if I just can't grasp the concept I'm supposed to write about, then I have to convince myself to write it. Academic writing (like literary theory or analysis) is something I usually don't feel willing to write about because of this. It's the fact that I don't really get a choice to write, that it's difficult for me to understand, and the lack of freedom makes a part of me defiant until I can force myself to just write it and move on. One exclusion would be when I had to argue in Engl 293 why The Bath and A Small Good Thing by Raymond Carver should be included in an anthology. It was easy to explain and argue because I chose a topic I loved. I'm usually pretty good at plotting out what to write, drafting the essay's structure, and tying together all the ideas at the end. I know how to write. I just struggle writing about something I'm not passionate about or that I don't really understand.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Estephanie's Academic Writing Self-Assessment
As time has past, I feel like I have grown as a writer. I have definitely improved in many aspects, but am still flawed in others. For example, I feel like, throughout the years I have gotten better with my organization while writing papers. In a paper that I wrote in 2018 for my Contemporary Issues class, I wrote a personal paper about DACA and Immigration. In this paper, my goal was to have the people in my class know more about DACA and how immigrants feel with the way that the president has been handling the situation. The way that I had my paper organized, the class was moved and the teacher complimented me with the way that I had written it. The things that I feel like I can improve on are staying on topic. Sometimes, while writing a paper, I sometimes focus too much on one certain topic instead of writing about the bigger picture.
Sophie's Academic Writing Self-Assessment
I definitely enjoy academic writing more than creative writing, so it is useful for me to analyze my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to academic writing. I think my biggest weakness would be in coming up with ideas: once I have an idea to write about, I enjoy the writing process of communicating the idea. But, actually choosing what to write about is usually an arduous and time-consuming process. My biggest strength in academic writing would probably be my ability to support a claim well. I think I am good at staying focused in my writing and really finding the right evidence to support whatever it is I am arguing. I think an example of these weaknesses and strengths would be in my final English 251 paper: it took me hours to decide what to write about, but once I figured it out, I think I did a good job of supporting my thesis with textual evidence.
Caroline's Academic Writing Self-Assessment
Last semester I was able to write and present my Senior Thesis for my art history major. It was a very long process with lots of writes and rewrites. I used my paper from a previous class and reworked a lot of it. I had lots of angles and lots of research included to make it a strong paper. I am - and was in my thesis - able to find lots of information and quotes that supported my theories. I enjoy writing papers and telling my opinions and thoughts, which are supported by facts. Especially in art history, where i presented a new angle on a very popular artist. I tend to struggle with following an outline and focusing all my thoughts into a coherent paper. I don't enjoy doing peer editing, I have my own way of editing and working with people on my papers, so peer editing is extra work for me.
Matt's Academic Writing Self-Assessment
In my Literature Review on the creative process I encountered a few strengths and weaknesses in my writing; one of both will be discussed here. Throughout my paper I had good synthesis of all the sources I gathered. I was able to use many journals and research to properly communicate the history of the creative process and present the latest theories in an organized manner. I noticed how this ability to synthesize my sources came slightly easier to me than it did my classmates, which made me realize that it was one of my literary strengths.
However, I also encountered a major weakness in my writing. I have difficulty reaching my paper's required lengths. This Lit Review was supposed to be ten pages long, however I felt the paper was finished by page eight. That leaves me with two pages of new information I had to include that fit along with my paper without seeming like new last minute additions (which they were). I had a hard time with this, but with some work and help, I was able to get to the required page length. This experience led me to realize that writing a lot is my weakness.
However, I also encountered a major weakness in my writing. I have difficulty reaching my paper's required lengths. This Lit Review was supposed to be ten pages long, however I felt the paper was finished by page eight. That leaves me with two pages of new information I had to include that fit along with my paper without seeming like new last minute additions (which they were). I had a hard time with this, but with some work and help, I was able to get to the required page length. This experience led me to realize that writing a lot is my weakness.
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