What has your experience with poetry been throughout your life?

My experience with poetry has mainly been through the English courses i have taken throughout the years. My English teacher in high school provided some great poets for us to study. My two favorite poets would have to be Edgar Allen Poe and Robert Frost. Both of their works are brilliant and i find them interesting. The poems that we had to do for homework did not spark my interest. I found the first poem was hard to interpret.

What other types of papers have you been assigned to write outside of this class this semester?

This is the only class I have had papers to write. My other classes have had tests throughout the semester. Towards the end of the month I will have a few final papers due but for now all my grades have come from this english class. I am not totally happy with the grades but I plan on doing better for the last part of the semester. My overall goal is to get at least a 3.0 gpa.

What do you think of this class so far?

Everything about the class is fine except for the homework. I have trouble writing papers and having one due after everything class is tiresome. All this practice can only benefit me in the end but after this class i do not plan on taking anymore English classes. I do not have a definite major but lately i have been leaning towards health. I'm gonna look into maybe becoming a physical therapist because i enjoy helping people and making them feel better. Overall this class is not that bad but I am ready for the semester to be over and to finally have summer. :)

Do you think theatre is still a relevant artform in today's society?

I think theatre is an essential art that continues to hold importance in our culture today. Art is an expression of emotions. For me personally i hold interest in music more than theater. I have a passion for music and find it more appealing than going to plays. I think that for certain people theater is their way of life and for me music is mine. It all depends on what you are passionate for.

my birthday!

My birthday is on thursday and I couldn't be happier! I'll be 19. I am already setting up plans for the city, dinner with my family, and even a show this weekend. Most people don't believe me when I first tell them I am born on April Fool's Day. Hopefully I won't get too many jokes played on me but i guess we' ll have to wait and see!

addresses issues in plays

The play "Romeo and Juliet" addresses prejudice issues. These two famililes can wrapped in a endless battle. Prejudiece is shown through the clash between the Montague and Capulet families. This fighting has been going on for years and most of the members are predisposed to think badly of one another.

Have you ever seen a play in person?

The first and only play I have seen in person is "Wicked". I throughly enjoyed this play. I saw it at the Gershwin Theater in New York City with my junior year history class. I have read the book "The Wizard of Oz", and have also seen the movie. It has always been a favorite of mine.This play was unique in that it was told from an alternate perspective. The story is told from the viewpoint of the wicked witch. The audience sees that wicked witch has not always been witched.I thought it was well written and a good first experience.

What did you do while snowed in last week?

I spent both my snow days playing catch up and relaxing. I first woke up early on Wednesday to take a peek outside my window. Just by seeing the amount of snow already piled on the ground I knew school was cancelled. I then laid right back in bed and continued to sleep for a good part of the day. After that I worked on cleaning my room and worked on school work. Thursday was spend similar except I had to dig out my car from the snow and go to work. Two days off from school was defiantly a nice break. I hope we have more snow days before this winter is over.

Free Choice

I recently got another job at this new gym. I'm excited to work there but i am not sure how i will be able to balance school, work, and fun. I already have my current job as a hostess. In my senior year of high school I worked two jobs and went to school. I managed it well. I hope to find a balance to all this work. The trick will be staying focused and not letting my mind get sidetracked.

What books/stories have you seen turned into movies or plays?

One of my favorite books is "The Wizard of Oz". This book has been made into both a movie and play. I would have to say I liked the play the most. It is based off of the view point of the wicked witch. You see that she wasn't always a wicked witch. She was actually good and became "wicked". The book and movie differ from the play in that the views points are from different characters. I enjoy the play and movie more because you can see what is happening in the story. While reading a book, the reader has to picture what is going on through the words of the author rather than actually seeing it.

Free Choice

I thoroughly enjoyed my two days off of school. Bergen county received at least a foot of snow. I regret waiting till after it stopped snowing to shovel out my car. It took me almost two hours and my back is still feeling the effects from my long dig. Next snowfall I will make sure I shovel sooner.

What types of literature or writing do you think should be addressed in college Intro to Literature classes?

I personally think that the types of literature that should be used is writing that makes a reader think. Not just simply think but actually make them look outside the box. I find that reading an author's work that has a meaning hidden behind the words is enjoyable. It gives reader's a chance to focus on where the author is coming from. Personal experiences also make for good stories. These stories have lots of emotion packed into each and keep reader's attention from beginning to end.

Literature Response

For me the best part about writing and reading pieces of literarture is the messages and ideas the words convey. Authors use foreshadowing, description, symbols, etc to get a point across to it's audience. Usually the point of the literature is not blatinally obvious. Sometimes the reader needs to think outside the box to discover it's meaning. That is the where i get enjoyment from reading an author's work. When I have to search hard for embedded ideas and look beyond the literal apperance of things to find the real meaning. Alot of literary works are influenced by the history, culture and experiences of the individuals who write them. That is where writing has it's uniqueness. No author writes the same.

http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/understanding.htm

about me =]

My name is Ciara Van Ness. I am currently enrolled in my second semester at Bergen. I picked this course as a requirement for my college general education. My major is still undecided. I hope that by taking this and other courses i can complete my degree and transfer out. My goal is to get out of new jersey within the next couple years and hopefully have a direction for my career.