Literature Blog

Fiction

1. "Krebs found that to be listened to at all he had to lie, and after he had done this twice he, too, had a reaction against the war and against talking about it. A distaste for everything that had happened to him in the war set in because of the lies he had told."--"Soldier's Home" by Ernest Hemingway

In this part of the story, Krebs is basically trying to teach himself to lie and to get used it. It shows what kind of person Hemingway wants his readers to portray Krebs as. He wants us to think of Krebs as someone who is insecure with who he is. I think that this quote relates to the world today. Most people lie and cheat to get the attention they seek, but in the end all this does is hurt you.

2. "A rumor of some unaccountable phenomenon had preceded Mr. Hooper into the meeting-house, and set all the congregation astir. Few could refrain from twisting their heads towards the door; many stood upright, and turned directly about; while several little boys clambered upon the seats, and came down again with a terrible racket."--"The Minister's Black Veil" by Nathanial Hawthorne

This quote shows Hawathorne's writing style. He uses a lot of description, including strong adjectives, that make you feel as if you were in the actual story. I felt that this quote demonstrated a great sense of writing. Hawthorne's stories are somewhat mysterious and creepy, but all of them have great literature within them. This particular quote could also refer to how the world acts today.

3. "Then we noticed that in the second pillow was the indentation of a head. One of us lifted something from it, and leaning forward, that faint and invisible dust dry and acrid in the nostrils, we saw a long strand of iron-gray hair."--"A Rose For Emily" by William Faulkner

This quote greatly demonstrates William Faulkner's writing style. Most of the time, he uses twisted endings in his stories. These endings make his stories completely unique. In this quote, the ending was very unexpected, but I will never forget it. This is what Faulkner wanted, he wanted us to remember the way he ended his stories, and with the way he ended most of them they will never be forgotten.

4. "During the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country; and at length found myself, as the shades of the evening drew on, within view of the melancholy House of Usher."--"The House of Usher" by Edgar Allen Poe

This quote shows how Edgar Allen Poe's style of writing is completely different from other authors. He uses adjectives in his stories that describe dark and gloomy places. His stories have the tendancy to make you somewhat depressed. Poe has a unique way of twisting things to where they become sick and distorted. This particular quote is the opening sentence of the short story "The House of Usher." From the beginning, you can tell what kind of story it is going to be.

5. "You were up to fifty-five," she said. "You know I don't like to go more than forty. You were up to fifty-five." Walter Mitty drove on toward Waterbury in silence, the roaring of the SN202 through the worst storm in twenty years of Navy flying fading in the remote, intimate airways of his mind."--"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" by James Thurber

In this quote, James Thurber wants us to realize what kind of character Walter Mitty is. This quote shows Thurber has a common sort of writing style. It is very easy to understand. In this quote, it is easy to discern what type of person Walter Mitty is and what his personality is like. He is a daydreamer, trying to escpae the real life he lives everyday.

Non-Fiction

1. "Let us first be as simple and well as Nature ourselves, dispel the clouds which hang over our brows, and take up a little life into our pores. Do not stay to be an overseer of the poor, but endeavor to become one of the worthies of the world."--"Walden" by Henry David Thoreau

This quote is something everyone should apply to ther daily lives. Thoreau has a deep sort of writing that is meant to influence and inspire you. This quote greatly demonstrates this. He takes the great things of the world and tends to make them simple and easy to understand. In some cases it is difficult to understand his point, but once you grasp his concept it is something you will never forget.

2. "The long slender bars of cloud float like fishes in the sea of crimson light. From the earth, as a shore, I look out into that silent sea. I seem to partake its rapid transformations: the active enchantment reaches my dust, and I dilate and conspire with the morning wind."--Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson

This quote gives a great example of Ralph Waldo Emerson's writing style. His uses a lot of similes to compare things that are silent and unique. This quote also tells you the good things about nature. It makes it seem like mature is the most peaceful place in the entire world. Emerson has a way of making you feel what he felt when he was writing.

3. "I had learned long ago that he only carried just so many rounds of ammunition, and was sure to subside into a very placable and even remorseful old smooth-bore as soon as they were all gone. That word 'old' is merely affectionate; he was not more than thirty-four."--"Life on the Mississippi" by Mark Twain

This quote gives a great example of Mark Twain's writing style. He is a very descriptive writer. This quote also shows how it is easy to understand most forms of his writing. Twain has a feel of describing something so well that you are able to picture his story scene by scene in your head.

4. "For a true writer each book should be a new beginning where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment. He should always try for something that has never been done or that others have tried and failed. Then sometimes, with great luck, he will succeed."--Ernest Hemingway's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech

I completely agree with everything this quote says. Hemingway knew all there was to know about literature, so he was able to give the advice needed to become what he was. He is basically saying it was luck that made him become such a great writer. I think he is right about trying to write every book differently. If one writes the same exact way, their works could get somewhat broing to read.

5. "Since such a repetition is not to be expected, the next thing most like living one's life over again seems to be a recollection of that life, and to make that recollection as durable as possible by putting it down in writing."--The Autobigraphy by Benjamin Franklin

In this quote, Benjamin Franklin is basically telling us that if you want your life to be remembered, it needs to be put down into writing. The advice he gave worked for himself in a great way. His autobiography is now one of the most famous pieces of literature in history. Franklin always seemed to have an answer for everything.

Poems

1. "Heart, we will forget him!

You an I, tonight!

You may forget the warmth he gave,

I will forget the light"--"Heart We Will Forget Him"-- by Emily Dickenson

This poem is talking about how if you work together with your heart it is possible to overcome anything. I agree with everything Emily Dickenson talks about in this poem. Her poetry is unique compared to others. She sometimes uses symbolism and relates serious things into great format. This poem is a perfect example of it.

2. "So tipping down the scrambled halls he set
Vague hands down on throbbing knobs. There were
behind
Only spiraling, high human voices,
The scream of nervous affairs"--"The Explorer" by Gwendolyn Brooks

This quote shows the way Gwendolyn Brooks writes her poetry. She gives very vivid descriptions so you are able to picture everything in your mind as you read. The intricate adjectives she uses make her poems interesting to read and easy to follow. This poem is a great example of the way she implies her descriptive words.

3. "Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool

He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.

Sweet Blues!

Coming from a black man's soul.

O Blues!"--"The Weary Blues" by Langston Hughes

This quote from this poem gives you hints about the poet's life when he was younger. It goes back to racism and the days when all the author had was "the blues." I liked reading this poem because I felt like I could feel what Hughes was trying to communicate to us. He was saying that all he needed was the blues and his family.

4. "In the long, sleepless watches of the night,

A gentle face--the face of one long dead--

Looks at me from the wall, where round its head

The night-lamp casts a halo of pale light.

Here in this room she died, and soul more white"--"The Cross of Snow" by Henry

Wadsworth Longfellow

This poem was written eighteen years after Longfellow's wife died. Her death was what inspired him to write it. This quote from the poem also gives a good example of the rhyme scheme he commonly uses. When yo read this poem, you can almost feel the pain that Longfellow went through.

5. "so much depends

upon

a red wheel

barrow

glazed with rain

water

beside the white

chickens."--"The Red Wheelbarrow" by William Carlos Williams

I like this poem because it shows how a lot can be said in only a few words. Williams is good at talking about wordly things and putting them into simple and short words. Williams also uses a lot of symbolism in this poem. It makes this poem interesting to read because you are constantly figuring out what means what.

Topic=Friendship

1. "The Soul unto itself

Is an imperial friend –

Or the most agonizing Spy –

An Enemy – could send –" --"The Soul Unto Itself by Emily Dickenson

I like this poem because it shows that your soul can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. It all depends on how you choose to use it. I use my soul as my best friend. Your soul helps you get through life and can help you get to places you have never been before. This a great frienship poem.

2. "Neighbours bring food with death, and flowers with sickness, and little things in between. Boo was our neighbour. He gave us two soap dolls, a broken watch and chain, a knife, and our lives. "--To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This quote is saying that anyone can be a friend if you let them. In this particluar quote it is describing what your neighbors do for their neighbors. They act as a close friend. They help out in desperate times of need. In this quote, Scout is describing the kind of friend Boo Radley was to her and Jem. He was a true friend, one that is hard to find.

3. "When a friend calls to me from the road

And slows his horse to a meaning walk,

I don't stand still and look around

On all the hills I haven't hoed,

And shout from where I am, What is it?

No, not as there is a time to talk.

I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,

Blade-end up and five feet tall,

And plod: I go up to the stone wall

For a friendly visit."--"A Time to Talk" by Robert Frost

This poem saying that if you ever have a friend in need, you should immediatly go to them with comfort. You should out down whatever you are doing to go help out your friend in need. You should always be there for them even when it is not at your convenience. Robert Frost makes that very clear in this poem.

4. "So, he whispered to the sleeping boy. I have you."--The Road by Cormac McCarthy

This quote is showing that no matter how hard life can get, friendship is always able to rise above it. In this quote, the boy and his father are in horrible conditions, but with their friendship and love they are able to overcome insane things. The father and son had a very unique sort of friendship that helped them make their way through the nasty setting in the book.

5. "Daytimes we paddled all over the island in the canoe, ... It was mighty cool and shady in the deep woods, even if the sun was blazing outside. We went winding in and out amongst the trees, and sometimes the vines hung so thick we had to back away and go some other way."--The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

From this quote, you get the impression that Huck is completely happy with his life because he has everything he needs; friendship and nature. You can tell from this quote that Huck values his friendship with Jim regardless of the racsim issues between them. It shows what holds together a true friendship.