Reading Journal
Sample Journal Entry
Easily the poem that stood out to me in week two was “Myth,” by Muriel Rukeyser. I loved the dimension of the original story of Oedipus and the way the author used that to create something new. It completely opened up a different view of this story for me. Now only does this create a sort of explanation as to why Oedipus did not recognize his mother in the original tale, but it also points out a sexist flaw in the story, so to speak. I have never been a fan of the fact that people say “man” to refer to both men and women because it makes women seem like the sub-genre of men. There is something unsettling about the idea that even the Sphinx in this story did not notice this the first time she had her conversation with Oedipus. It makes Oedipus’s statement that “everyone knows that” (line 14) women are included in “Man” ironic because obviously the Sphinx did not. That kind of seemed like the Sphinx could have been bitter and perhaps was seeking revenge on Oedipus. Artistically, I find this work very effective. The whole story is so subtle and short, but it left a big impact. The last line is really what sets the poem off and creates the tension, and that was my favorite part of the piece. The Sphinx’s sassy response of “that’s what you think” (15) is clever and I thought it created an interesting banter between the male and female characters in this piece. It reminded me of bickering old friends, which is almost what they were, though friends might be too strong of a label. Maybe “frenemies” is a more appropriate term to describe their relationship. Out of everything we have read so far, this poem has had the biggest impact on me. I find myself going back and thinking about the very simple idea that though people assume women are equal to men, they obviously are not. The way this poem uses imagery and allusion only appeals to me more.
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* Thanks to student Dianne Honan for her permission to share this excerpt from her journal assignment.
Please note the way she weaves details and actual lines from the poem into her explanation of why the poem had an impact on her. Note also that she refers to artistic elements of the poem and discusses them with specific vocabulary such as irony and allusion.
Literature is art. The effectiveness of imaginative writing depends both on the artistry of the writer and a reader’s capacity to recognize that artistry.
The purpose of this assignment is to compile your reflections and reactions to the last six weeks of reading material in this course. Reading Journal Assignment should meet the following requirements:
· It should be at least 1,200 words in length.
· It should be completed in MLA format (although a works-cited page is not necessary for this assignment unless you cite a source not on our syllabus).
· It should be double spaced, use Times New Roman, 12-point font, have one-inch margins, and include appropriate parenthetical citations.
Note that this assignment does not have a rubric, but your submission will be graded on the following criteria:
· Inclusion of at least one reading per week
· Evidence of reflection and personal connection
· Length (your completed assignment must be at least 1,200 words, as outlined in the above requirements list)
· Adherence to best practices of college-level writing and grammar (as outlined in the above requirements list)
Weeks Reading
Wk-8: Joyce Carol Oates: “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”
Wk-9: Atwood, Margaret. “The Little Red Hen Tells All.”
Wk-10: Sharon Olds: One Girl at the Boys’ Party”
Wk-11: Louise Erdrich: “The Shawl”
Wk-12: Margaret Edson: Wit
Bookworm Bonny. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown in HD. YouTube, 8 June 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOKpIgH6kJw&feature=youtu.be. (4:02)